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Research &

development

Collaboration between research

institutions and MPAs contributes

to Posidonia oceanica conservation:

The Egadi Island’s experiment

Preliminary results on the collaboration between the ENEA’s Marine Environment Research Center and the Egadi
Islands’ Marine Protected Area (MPA), aimed to evaluate effectiveness of artificial reefs in limiting the impact
of trawling on Posidonia oceanica meadow at Favignana Island, are reported. The methods and parameters chosen
for monitoring showed their reliability in training non-experienced personnel for data collection within the MPA.
The proposed monitoring approach is of great value to the MPA interested in both gathering basic and long-term
data on the health status of protected habitats and acquiring baseline information useful for the evaluation
of protection and conservation actions

DOI 10.12910/EAI2015-073

n S. Cocito, C. Lombardi, S. Donati, P. Patti Genovese, N. Ponzè, A. Peirano

Introduction

Declines in the cover of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile quality, but also of a decrease in fishing resources and
meadows have been recorded in many parts of the an increase in coastal erosion.
Mediterranean Sea, where the plant forms extensive Meadow declines have been attributed to several
meadows on rocks and sandy bottoms in clean water natural and anthropogenic impacts, illegal trawling
at a depth from less than 1 meter to over 40 meters [1]. fishing being one of the most important direct causes of
Identified as a priority habitat type for conservation in large scale degradation of P. oceanica. Repeated passes
the Habitats Directive (Dir 92/43/CEE), these meadows of trawl gear over the seabed cause the mechanical
provide important ecological functions and services, degradation of meadows, reduce plant density and
and harbour a highly diverse community with some cover and this degradation changes the structure and
species of economic interest. Any decline in P. oceanica dynamics of the associated biological assemblages.
meadows could have serious economic implications, It has been reported that trawling gear can remove
not only in terms of loss of biodiversity and ecosystem between 100000 and 360000 shoots/hour [2]. The slow
re-growth of the plant further prolongs the impact of
trawling, which sometimes can run into decades [3].
With the main objective of restoring P. oceanica
meadows, restrictions on trawling over meadows have
Contact person: Silvia Cocito
silvia.cocito@enea.it been reinforced in the last 15 years in Spain, Italy and
France by the deployment of anti-trawling artificial

EAI Energia, Ambiente e Innovazione 4/2015
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