One of the main aims of the Save the Wave project is to contribute to the advancement of scientific research in conservation and restoration. For this reason, Save the Wave scientific partners drive key actions in ocean research.

Preliminary results of the Tremiti Islands restoration project were shared at two major conferences: the 52nd Congress of the Italian Society of Marine Biology in Messina (June 12-15, 2023) and the IEEE MetroSea conference in Malta (October 4-6, 2023).

Abstract

The fast decline of coastal habitats worldwide demands active restoration measures to mitigate anthropogenic impacts. In the Mediterranean Sea, meadows of the endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica are declining, mostly due to human activities carried out along the coast. Given the high conservation value of this habitat, several transplanting efforts have been attempted in recent decades to slow this decline and enhance the recovery of stressed meadows. In this study, we applied a new technique to transplant Posidonia oceanica with 100% natural materials. The study was carried out at the Tremiti Islands Marine Protected Area (Adriatic Sea), where 100 m2 of meadow were transplanted. We used drifting cuttings, already uprooted by boat anchors, as donor material. These were transplanted onto organic mats made of coconut fibers, subsequently stabilized with local boulders and gravel. The preliminary success was assessed over a two-month monitoring period using visual techniques. The photographic monitoring protocol was set up in order to be accessible for divers and citizen scientists, as well as to avoid direct impact on the cuttings. Our preliminary results showed promising transplanting success in terms of integrity and cutting coverage %. Further monitoring will be carried out to evaluate the success over a longer time span and to assess the feasibility of this restoration method at a larger scale.