• Large Mediterranean lagoon bordered by sweet or salty wetlands welcoming water birds all year round.
• 7 out of 9 Ramsar eligibility criteria.
• The second largest lagoon in the Occitania / Pyrenees-Mediterranean region.

Flora:

Allium commutatum Guss., Buplerumsemi Compositum L., Pseudorlaya Pumila (L.)Grande, Otanthus Maritimus (L.) Hoffm. et Link, Malcolmia Ramosissima (Desf.) Gennari ,Loeflingia Hispanica L., Cressa Cretica L., Euphorbia Peplus L., Medicago secundiflora Durieu, Stachys Maritima (L) Gouan, Ophrys tenthredinifera Willd., Hypecoumprocumbens L., Plantago cornuti Gouan, Limoniastrum Monopetalum (L.) Boiss., Arundoplinii Turra, Delphinium verdunense Balbis, Tamari africana Poiret, Typha laxmannii Lepechin

Fauna:

The site is important for birds since it is located in the migration corridors. 280 species have been listed, of which 89 are protected.

Little Tern, Moustached Warbler, Short-toed Lark, Kentish Plover, Eurasian Bittern, Squacco Heron, Little Bustard, European Roller, Purple Swamphen, Greater Flamingo, Purple Heron, Stone Curlew, Little Egret, Ortolan Bunting, Marsh Harrier, Short-toed Eagle, Black-winged Stilt, Tawny Pipit, Little Bittern, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, European Nightjar.

And others species :

Lesser mouse-eared Bat, Schreiber’s Bat, Long-fingered bat,  Spanish pond turtle, European pond terrapin, European el, Twait shad, Mediterranean barbel, Southern Damselfly.

– Tourism: the Leucate discovery trails, the Parc “des Dosses” interpretation trail, the Sagnette-Soulsoure trail, the Roquette trail in Salses-le-Château and soon the trails beside the pond of Fitou.

– Agriculture: mainly from viticulture (AOC Fitou or Muscat de Rivesaltes) or arboriculture (Roussillon red apricot) horse, sheep or manade breeding. These activities are carried out all or partly either by organic farming or by agro-environmental and climatic measures or adaptations of technical itineraries.

– fishing

– shellfish farming

Promotion of the cultural or historical heritage highlight navigation on flat-bottomed boats and Latin sails, the barracks of fishermen in reeds, the fishing practices of the past, the castle of Leucate and the fortress of Salses (Natura 2000 site with bats).

House of the pond (museum http://rivage-salses-leucate.org/missions/decouvrir/maison-de-letang/), information points in the municipalities, environmental guides, discovery trails, signs, etc.

Summer nature outings, environmental education for schools, communication.

Wetland management strategy, Natura 2000 sites, development and water management scheme, etc.

Linking tourism and the environment, be part of a climate change context.

Yes, the site benefited from a management plan validated in 2013.

Latest updates of these informations: June 2020