POSIDONIA OCEANICA
Help us preserve a highly valuable, irreplaceable and natural resource
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.
Posidonia oceanica
The Posidonia oceanica is a key protected habitat in the Mediterranean Sea. It is highly vulnerable because of its slow growth rate and once destroyed it cannot be restored.
Photograph by OCEANA / Carlos Minguell © LIFE BaĦAR for N2K
Anchoring & Mooring
Boat density and the average length of boats are sharply increasing in the Mediterranean. Anchoring & mooring on Posidonia oceanica has become one of the greatest threats.
Photograph by Manu San Félix
Stakeholder's Role
The purpose of the Network is to work alongside specialized actors across the entire Mediterranean such as scientists, local and national authorities, the EU, maritime authorities, marine protected area managers, the yachting industry and nautical professionals (boat captains).
Photograph by Yiannis Issaris
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.
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:
Spain
Croatia
Cyprus
Ramoge
France
Montenegro
Turkey
Plan Bleu
Monaco
Albania
MedPAN
Italy
Greece
IUCN
Slovenia
Malta
EU
Spain
Croatia
Cyprus
France
Montenegro
Turkey
Monaco
Albania
Slovenia
Italy
Greece
Malta
MedPAN
EU
IUCN
Ramoge
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.
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.
Photographs by:
- Iván Moreno
- Daisee Aguilera
- Yiannis Issaris
- Maria José Estarellas