Life Posidonia Andalucia

Title: Conservation of Posidonia oceanica meadows in Andalusian Mediterranean Sea

Summary: Neptune grass (Posidonia oceanica) underwater meadows are a priority habitat listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive. Some 95% of these meadows are found in six Natura 2000 network marine sites (SCIs) in the Andalusia. Conservation actions within these SCIs will guarantee the conservation of practically all Posidonia oceanica meadows, however, planned management of the meadows remains limited. A management plan is required for the marine meadows that harmonises nature conservation with economic and social development needs in the area. Stakeholder participation will be a crucial success factor for the management plan’s design and implementation.

The LIFE Nature project’s main objective is to improve the conservation status of Posidonia oceanica meadows. This will be achieved by undertaking studies and applying protection measures. Research will identify the current state of the meadows in Andalusia (in regression, stable or in expansion). This will enable the design of baseline data and indicators to track conservation gains. Threats to the ecosystems (including pollution, boat anchoring, uncontrolled trawling or traditional local fishing and the expansion of exotic invasive species) will also be investigated and mechanisms assessed for mitigating negative impacts on the meadows, as well as those species that they support which are listed in annex II of the Habitats Directive and Birds Directive.

Further studies will clarify the broader benefits linked to the meadows, plus the costs of their loss, such as impacts on fish populations, beach regeneration and deterioration of tourist attractions. All this information will inform the design of a new management plan for natural areas in Andalusia that will make it possible to plan a regulatory framework over time, which will guarantee conservation and sustainable use of these areas and the species which they house. Outcomes of the management plan will be monitored via networks of diving volunteers.

These will assess the risks and report on the conservation status of meadows and associated species. Stakeholder participation will feature strongly throughout the project work and involve close liaison with fishermen and professional ship owners, tourism providers and users, sports divers and students.

The aim of this outreach work is to: gain support for the conservation actions; help introduce early warning systems against threats; and facilitate balanced sustainable developments within Andalusia’s marine Natura 2000 sites.

For more information, please visit EurOcean Knowledge Gate.