191VARSTVO NARAVE, Supl. 1 (2011)
DEBELI RTIČ: A NEW LOOK AT AN OLD MARINE PROTECTED 
AREA
DEBELI RTIČ: NOV POGLED NA STARO ZAVAROVANO MORSKO 
OBMOČJE
Barbara VIDMAR, Tina TRAMPUŠ
ABSTRACT
Debeli rtič is the northernmost Slovenian peninsula in the Gulf of Trieste close to the Italian border. The 
whole peninsula is characterized by mostly naturally preserved coastline and sea. It consists of two cliffs 
(Valdoltra and Debeli rtič) and a shallow silty bay of Sv. Jernej. All these sites are of great importance from 
the conservation point of view and enjoy, according to the Slovenian legislation, nature conservation 
status from several aspects: ecologically important areas, valuable natural features, and Natura 2000 
sites. The cliffs, salt meadows, underwater meadows, algal beds, and sandbanks constitute significant 
habitats both within the Slovene and European frameworks. Among the numerous marine species, some 
rare and endangered ones are especially worth mentioning, such as Pinna nobilis, Pholas dactylus and 
Hippocampus guttulatus. In 2009, even a Caretta caretta turtle was seen some 200 metres from the coast. 
Despite the high natural value all around the peninsula, only a small part in the extreme part of the 
cape is protected as a natural monument by a municipal decree from 1991, based on the former Law on 
Natural and Cultural Heritage.
IZVLEČEK
Debeli rtič, ki leži v Tržaškem zalivu blizu italijanske meje, je najsevernejši slovenski polotok. Njegova 
poglavitna značilnost sta večinoma naravno ohranjena obala in morje. Sestoji iz dveh klifov (Valdoltra 
in Debeli rtič) in plitkega muljastega zaliva Sv. Jernej. Vse te lokalitete so izjemnega naravovarstvenega 
pomena in na osnovi slovenske zakonodaje zaščitene kot ekološko pomembna območja, dragocene 
naravne vrednote in območja Nature 2000. Klifa, slani travniki, podvodni travniki, zaplate alg in peščena 
obrežja so pomembni rastlinski in živalski habitati tako na slovenski kot evropski ravni. Med mnogimi 
morskimi bitji so posebne omembe vredne nekatere redke in ogrožene vrste, kot na primer leščur (Pinna 
nobilis), datljevka (Pholas dactylus) in dolgonosi morski konjiček (Hippocampus guttulatus). Leta 2009 
je bila 200 m od obale opažena celo kareta (Caretta caretta). Kljub izjemni naravni vrednosti celotnega 
polotoka, je z občinskim odlokom iz leta 1991 (na osnovi nekdanjega Zakona o naravni in kulturni 
dediščini) kot naravni spomenik zaščiten le majhen del skrajnega dela rta.
Barbara VIDMAR and Tina TRAMPUŠ
Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation, 
Regional Unit Piran
Trg Etbina Kristana 1, 
6310 Izola, Slovenia
barbara.vidmar@zrsvn.si, tina.trampus@zrsvn.si 
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