This sea-land ecosystem has a laurel forest and over 200 species of seaweed . It also stands out for its shellfish , corals and anemones . As for wildlife , one can see seagulls , shags , razorbills , guillemots , whales , orcas , dolphins , basking sharks ( rare ) . There are traces of human occupation in the islands since the Iron Age . Ceramics have also been found since Roman times . The islands were occupied by various monastic orders during the Middle Ages , were owned by the Church , gauged by nobles of the time and attacked by invaders who used them as a base for raids on the coast . More recently , the islands were inhabited until the eighteenth century , but by pirates ' action , people had to abandon the islands . In 1980 the Cies Islands were declared a natural park . They are also a '' Special Protection Area '' for birds . On June 13 , 2002 was declared a national park . However , 6 months later , the oil spill caused by the Prestige oil tanker came on its shores , except on the island of Cortegada . The islands of Loberiras and Sisargas could be added to the park in the future
oil spill
Prestige oil spill
Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park