Balearic Islands Relaunches its Posidonia Monitoring Network

The project restores marine monitoring stations across the four major islands to boost conservation

What does it consist of?

The Posidonia Monitoring Network in the Balearic Islands is back in working order after years of inactivity. The initiative re-establishes the link between the Government and citizens to monitor the progress of a seagrass habitat that is essential to the health of the coastline.

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Data

PROJECT TITLE IN THE CALL
Monitoring the Posidonia seagrass
LOCATION
Mallorca, Minorca, Ibiza, Formentera
Entity submitting the PROJECT
Govern de les Illes Balears
Entity that executes the project
Conselleria d'Agricultura, Pesca i Alimentació
Project code
ITS2016-010
Total project amount
130.000 €
ITS granted amount
130.000 €
Executed amount
130.000 €
Call year
2016
Execution status
Executed
Purpose
Environment
Budget execution
Executed: 100%
Last data request
11.02.2021

The project

Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows cover more than 600 km² of seabed in the Balearic Islands, and are one of the region’s most valuable ecosystems. Their presence ensures water clarity, beach stability and biodiversity. However, pressure from tourism, illegal mooring and climate change have challenged its survival.

From 1999 to 2011, the Department for Fisheries and the Marine Environment coordinated a monitoring network which involved citizens, consisting of 36 stations spread throughout Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. These stations allowed key data to be collected, such as cover density, the presence of indicator species or the spread of invasive algae. Over time, the project suffered disruption and was eventually stopped.

However, funding has made it possible to relaunch this network, restore existing stations and set up new ones close to the originals. Investments have gone towards replenishing sampling materials and building trust with volunteers and local entities. This collaboration is crucial to ensure that the data obtained is consistent and representative of the whole area.

Thanks to this initiative, a system has been re-established that not only improves planning and management of the marine environment, but also strengthens the public’s involvement in conservation. The relaunch of the monitoring network is a key step in the protection of Posidonia seagrass, a crucial habitat in the fight against biodiversity loss and coastal decline in the Balearic Islands.