The Cap Roux fishing block is a 450-hectare marine protected area at the foot of the Massif de l'Estérel in the Var department. This reserve, created in 2003, prohibits all forms of harvesting: commercial fishing, pleasure fishing, angling, underwater hunting, etc. Only recreational activities are permitted.

Set up by fishermen to maintain their activity over the long term, this initiative is unique in Europe. But it's no coincidence that local fishermen campaigned to have the area declared a marine reserve: its role as a spawning ground and nursery makes it an important reservoir of fish resources. The spillover phenomenon comes into play, and fishing becomes sustainable.

This is the largest fishing reserve in mainland France. Today, scientific monitoring is carried out by the University of Nice to track and understand the functioning of marine ecosystems in the Cap Roux fishing area. The latest inventory of the Cap Roux reserve revealed the presence of 86 species of fish. This fishing reserve, the largest in mainland France, is proving its effectiveness not only for species of economic interest, but also for emblematic species.

The 1 OCEAN Foundation would like to give a voice to the fishermen behind this virtuous initiative, which reconciles fishing and conservation. The aim is to encourage reflection on the need for harmony between man and nature.