Pilot project to transplant red gorgonian colonies to Medes Islandsʼ seafloors
Around 400 pieces of red gorgonian colonies (Paramuricea clavata) have been transplanted to the Medes Islandsʼ seafloors by a team of experts of the Faculty of Biology of the University of Barcelona and CSIC, with the participation of instructors from different diving centers in Estartit.
This environmental intervention, set in June 1, covers an area of about 10 square meters in a place where gorgonians show high mortality rates. The initiative aims to contribute to both the recovery of populations that show a poor state of preservation and the development of protocols for the restoration of this emblematic habitat in the Mediterranean.
Around 400 pieces of red gorgonian colonies (Paramuricea clavata) have been transplanted to the Medes Islandsʼ seafloors by a team of experts of the Faculty of Biology of the University of Barcelona and CSIC, with the participation of instructors from different diving centers in Estartit.
This environmental intervention, set in June 1, covers an area of about 10 square meters in a place where gorgonians show high mortality rates. The initiative aims to contribute to both the recovery of populations that show a poor state of preservation and the development of protocols for the restoration of this emblematic habitat in the Mediterranean.
The pilot project is part of the scheduled activities of the European project MERCES (Marine Ecosystem Restoration in Changing European Seas) and was made possible thanks to the collaboration of the direction of the Natural Park of Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter (Department of Territory and Sustainability, Generalitat de Catalunya), the UB, CSIC and Diving Centers of Estartit.
Researchers Joaquim Garrabou, from CSICʼs Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC) and Cristina Linares, from the Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences of the University of Barcelona, coordinate the activities for the restoration of seafloors dominated by corals and gorgonians, habitats with a big structural complexity that benefit the development of a large biodiversity. In fact, these seafloors are one of the main reasons why thousands of scuba divers visit the Medes Islands each year.
In 2001, the research team transplanted red coral colonies (Corallium rubrum) -taken by illegal fishermen. The results, highly positive, made the transplanted colonies show a high survival rate after 5 years. The new pilot project with the red gorgonian is another step to broaden the range of restoration activities that were limited to experimental actions so far. “Thanks to the collaboration of the instructors from the centers and collectives in the future, we can launch ambitious restoration projects that allow us to go from a few to a lot of square meters” says Joaquim Garrabou (ICM-CSIC).
The success that results from this collaboration is a model to be followed in the future in order to contribute to the preservation of the natural heritage of the Medes Islands specifically and the Catalan Coast in general. According to Cristina Linares, from the Faculty of Biology of the University of Barcelona, “techniques for marine restoration are at an early stage and we need the involvement of different agents if we want to implement efficient measurements”.
Ramon Siliceo, representative of the Diving Centers of Estartit, says that “collaboration from the staff in diving companies with the researchers shows, once more, the need of working together to reach a sustainable tourist model that takes care of the environment”.
MERCES: protecting natural heritage in marine ecosystems
The MERCES project, coordinated by the Marche Polytechnic University (Italy), counts with the participation of CSICʼs Blanes Centre for Advanced Studies (CEAB) and the University of Girona. With 28 partners from 16 countries and a fund of 6 million euros, MERCES has also launched other actions in eight study areas in the Mediterranean, including Cap de Creus, Minorca and Corsica. The trials take place in marine reserves but the final objective is to design protocols for the restoration and use them in unprotected areas that are usually affected by fishing, pollution or climate change. The efficiency of the restoration activities will be assessed in the laboratory and field by using a wide range of methodologies and approaches (ecophysiological experiments, population genetics, underwater robots, etc.).
Images: Joaquim Garrabou (ICM-CSIC)