Learning to grow seagrass in the Balearic Islands

Posidonia Oceanica seagrass is threatened by pollution, coastal development and anchoring. Seagrass restoration has been poorly monitored and recorded over the years, and many research gaps remain. It can be difficult to achieve on rocky substrate.

The team has identified optimal planting sites, prepared materials for planting, undertook monitoring of restoration areas completed in previous years and gathered data on survival rates, growth rates, seed germination, characterisation of seeds and planting locations.    

The project is also using photo and video to show how easy it is to destroy Posidonia and how difficult to recover, and thus the importance of conserving existing seagrass. We are supporting Vellmari with its  Reserva 30 campaign to secure 30 per cent protection of the Spanish Mediterranean, which will help conserve vital ecosystems, like Posidonia, and the local fisheries and tourism industry that rely on them.  

Led by our Blue Climate unit and overseen by local partner Vellmari Association, this programme supports the restoration of the Posidonia seagrass ecosystem at the Ses Salines Natural Park in the Balearic Islands of  Formentera and Ibiza.  

It is an important step for Posidonia restoration not only here but in the wider Mediterranean, as the team is trying to find the best methodology to successfully plant Posidonia at scale and in more challenging rocky substrate. We aim to publish a report on lessons learned, the results obtained and a guide for replication of this work in other regions.