P.R.I.M.E.

Title: Posidonia Residues Integrated Management for Eco-sustainability

Summary: The endemic Mediterranean seagrass species, Posidonia oceanica forms dense and extensive underwater meadows with leaves that can reach 1m in height. These rare seagrass meadows (listed as a priority for conservation according to the EU Habitats Directive) provide important ecological functions and services and support a highly diverse community, including species of economic interest. During their life-cycle, the Posidonia meadows decompose and this residue is washed ashore. Every year in the many coastal communities affected by the phenomenon, thousands of tonnes of beached Posidonia oceanica are collected and disposed of in landfill sites. The residues also cause a disagreeable smell as a result of the putrefaction processes.

As well as the cost of cleaning and disposal for coastal communities, another problem is the lack of guidelines on how to manage this biomass material. Moreover, the use of heavy machinery (such as tractors) to remove seagrass residues along sandy coastlines can cause considerable damage to coastal ecosystems and can negatively impact the sedimentary balance of small beaches or add to coastal erosion.

The project aims to develop the potential reuse of Posidonia oceanica residues by developing an integrated management system capable of combining environmental protection with the waste biomass management and the reuse of material for agriculture. The project will demonstrate the possibility of reducing the environmental impact of the removal of the beached residues and to reduce the costs related to their disposal, principally through the reuse and the composting of the collected biomass.

This work will involve all concerned stakeholders including: local authorities responsible for coastal areas, bathing establishment directors, beach users, municipal wastes disposal services, compost producers and agriculture companies. The project will also aim to demonstrate that rather than being an environmental problem, the management of beached seagrass residues can become a useful resource for agriculture.

For more information, please visit EurOcean Knowledge Gate.