Background The management of marine sites is one of the greatest challenges for the implementation of the Natura 2000 network. The Canary Islands host a series of marine sites of great value for nature conservation, in particular as habitats for cetaceans and as feeding refuge for marine turtles coming from breeding grounds in America, Africa and the Mediterranean. This natural wealth coexists with human marine activities, some ancient and some new, and are subject to the increased economic development of coastal belt areas. The island of La Gomera includes one of these areas, the Santiago-Valle Gran Rey coastal belt, where environmental conditions provide optimal feeding and resting grounds for the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), a EU listed priority species, and for a variety of cetaceans, in particular for a large breeding colony of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Good management of this site is crucial for the future of both species in the Canarian archipelago, and offers an opportunity to develop management models that could be applied to marine Natura 2000 sites elsewhere in the EU. Objectives The project’s principal action will be the development of a management plan for the Santiago-Valle Gran Rey coastal belt in co-operation with all stakeholders. This would require, firstly, increased effort to improve the knowledge of the natural features, conservation status and threats to the site and target species. A physical and biological inventory of the environment and an assessment of human activities that affect both the species and their habitats would need to be implemented, including the development of indicators to allow for their long-term monitoring. Secondly, the project foresaw establishment of a management and control structure in which all competent administrations and other stakeholder groups participate, so as to guarantee long-term application of the management plan. Results The project, Conservation of the Tursiops and Caretta in La Gomera in the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) of the Franja Marina Santiago-Valle Gran Rey, provided a clear benefit for La Gomera, the SAC and the target species. Data collection activities (a first for a marine project in the Canary Islands) highlighted the complexity and richness of the protected marine area, as well as the interest that each of the SACs has for the conservation of the T. truncatus. The data collection activities included more than 100 dives, to characterize flora and fauna communities to a depth of 50m have been undertaken. Additionally over 50 boat trips with 171 whale and dolphin and 28 marine turtle sightings have been done. 37 fishermen have been polled in order to obtain information about the interaction intensity between the target species and the fishing activities. The analysis of the catches and the stomach content of the bottlenose dolphins beached is being undertaken to determinate if competition for a common resource exists between the target species and fishermen. Monitoring campaigns have been carried out in adjacent SCIs in El Hierro and La Palma islands to check the conservation status of the target species population so that data can be compared with the information from La Gomera. The genetical data obtained have been of great interest, showing the importance of these waters as a reserve of genetic diversity of the dolphins populations. This information formed the basis of the PRUG Management Plan proposal, a basic tool for the legislation and management of the SAC. The project has a great demonstration value as an example of how to apply management plans in other marine SACs of the Canary Islands. Nevertheless, the biggest benefit was to build up public opinion in favour of the SAC and to demonstrate that the status does not limit the socio-economic development of the area and of the La Gomera Island, but is an added value for the economy. Favourable opinion was encouraged through extensive information and awareness raising campaigns, especially aimed at schools and young people. So, over 2,000 children from primary and secondary schools of La Gomera have participated in an environmental education programme. Several conferences and educational activities for the users of the SCI have been organized. They have strengthened collaboration bonds, especially with fishermen and cetacean-watching and nautical trips companies. Turtle releases and solid waste collection campaigns have been carried out. Also the project published awereness leaflets and brochures, as well as a DVD documentary. Foundations are now available for the development of initiatives that respect the environment. Although there is not a significant threat to the target species, the situation could reverse should the steps of the franjas marinas of the biggest islands be followed in La Gomera. For this reason, the fast and effective approval of the PRUG Management plan proposal was crucial. The project opened up an axis of collaboration between the beneficiary and the land users that will stay open with time.