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The Mediterranean Posidonia Network, composed of
scientists and representatives of marine protected areas,
government departments and civil society, presented the
directives relating to seagrass meadow restoration, whose
main objectives concern developing structured guidelines.
This includes several steps: assessing the need for restoration,
planning, site selection, restoration, monitoring and evaluation
measures, presenting case studies illustrating successful
FEEDBACK ON PROJECTS IN measures, particularly nature-based ones, as well as analysing
THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN unsuccessful experiences to identify the causes of failure. This
Projects presented included the Italian Marine approach supports the implementation of new Posidonia
Ecosystem Restoration project, which is active in restoration projects based on extensive knowledge.
five coastal locations, and the transplantation project
following the sinking of the Costa Concordia cruise
ship in 2012. More than 10 years after the accident and
the subsequent clean-up operation, “an experimental
procedure of constant, systematic transplantation
was carried out in an area of 2,100 square meters at
a depth of between 10 and 23 meters. We achieved
a density of around 30 Posidonia leaf bundles per
square meter, which represents good progress,
particularly since 2016, the third year after the initial
transplantations”, said Dr Edoardo Casoli, from the
Department of Environmental Biology at Sapienza
University Rome, adding that progress is monitored
using photogrammetry.
The results of the active restoration of a damaged
Posidonia seagrass meadow in the marine protected
area of Larvotto, in Monegasque waters, were
presented by Alexis Pey, President of Thalassa Marine
Research & Environmental Awareness, who noted “an
18% increase in the number of leaf bundles and a low
mortality rate, coupled with the appearance of new
branches”. Thanks to this project conducted by the Cape Corsica and Agriate Marine Park © Gerard Pergent
Monegasque Association for the Protection of Nature,
new growth is beginning to fill in the gaps. “The meadow
should be restored to a healthy density before 2026,
but this is not certain because the rhizomes can live off
their reserves for five years”, warned the biologist and
marine ecologist, nevertheless.

The presentations and ensuing discussions provided The Posidonia Alliance, an initiative spearheaded by the French
an opportunity to examine the restoration process Biodiversity Agency, highlighted its commitment to protecting
in more depth, compare approaches and identify Posidonia seagrass meadows and banquettes during Monaco
knowledge gaps. Everyone acknowledged the Ocean Week. Actions include a study to understand the behaviour
shared commitment of stakeholders to protecting this of yachters, a public action campaign and encouraging people to
precious Mediterranean ecosystem. accept banquettes on beaches. It is an innovative and pioneering
undertaking, involving all the marine environment stakeholders
committed to taking action to protect Posidonia seagrass.