POSIDONIA OCEANICA
What is the Mediterranean Posidonia Network (MPN)?
The Mediterranean Posidonia Network was born after the EU Event celebrated in Athens (Greece) last 2019 named Anchors Away. It aims to bring together different stakeholders such as authorities, scientists, international environmental organizations, professionals including yachting agents, marinas from the Mediterranean countries.
These actors are concerned with the protection of Posidonia oceanica threatened by various pressures such as anchoring. The objective is to increase each country’s capacity building to better protect Posidonia oceanica and prevent its future degradation.
MPN Objectives
- Working on the knowledge of Posidonia oceanica, the pressures and the impacts while ensuring the monitoring and evaluation of the seagrass.
- Creating new regulations & strengthening current ones. Ensuring all regulations in the Mediterranean are homogenous.
- Facilitating the advent of eco-mooring & anchoring services as alternatives to boat users.
- Raising awareness at the local, national and international levels about the importance of Posidonia oceanica and the impact of anchoring.
MPN Projects
Anchoring Regulation Evaluation of all countries in the Mediterranean Sea
The study is financed by the French Biodiversity Office (OFB) and is currently under process. It is aiming at:
- Developing better understanding of the level of protection of Posidonia oceanica in different countries, at different scales and where the habitat is located.
- Having a better understanding of decision making processes in each country.
- Analysing the efficiencies and limits of current legislations.
- Suggesting improved regulations by country.
Results will be soon disseminated.
The MPN Coordination Task Force is componed by the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB), the Balearic Islands Government, the RAC/SPA, WWF, IUCN Med, MedPAN, Whitesand Solutions and Blue Seeds
The MPN gathers about 60 members (stakeholders, authorities, scientists, marine protected areas managers, environmental organizations, professionals, etc.) are from the following countries:
ALBANIA
Croatia
GREECE
MONACO
TUNISIA
EUROPEAN COMMISION
ALGERIA
CYPRUS
ITALY
MONTENEGRO
TURKEY
INTERNATIONAL
BELGIUM
FRANCE
MALTA
SPAIN
UK
MPN Roadmap
1
Monitoring Posidonia Meadows & Maritime traffic effectively
An updated mapping of Posidonia meadows is needed for each country. Analyzing recreational boat density can help to identify the areas which are most endangered. The goal is to create common monitoring tools across the entire Mediterranean.
2
Reinforcing Posidonia protection
The objective is to analyse current laws on anchoring & mooring to assess whether Posidonia oceanica is protected in all areas. Understanding local and national law enforcement is the key for an effective implementation.
3
Developing anchoring & ecological mooring services
Implementing sustainable anchoring and eco-mooring services is complex and requires technical, environmental and economical studies. The objective is to analyse current services, define best practices and technically and financially support projects in order of boat density priority.
4
Raise awareness
To raise awareness among the different stakeholders. Many local initiatives have been developed. The objective is to reinforce communication tools and to make Posidonia habitat as well-known as other priority habitats such as coral reefs.