STRONGSea

STRONG SEA - Survey and TReatment ON Ghost Nets SEA LIFE - is a project funded by the LIFE Programme, under Priority Area Nature and Biodiversity, with funds allocated for the 2014-2020 programming period. Officially launched in December 2021, the project spans a duration of 5 years.

The project aims to enhance the conservation status of the priority habitats, Posidonia oceanica meadows, and Coralligenous Reefs, both designated under Directive 92/43/EEC and within the Natura 2000 website network. These habitats were selected due to their significant ecological and environmental value and their prevalence within the study area.

The project's study area encompasses the Gulf of Asinara and the northwestern coast of Sardinia.

The Posidonia oceanica meadows. The Posidonia oceanica L. Delile comprises marine phanerogamous plants, endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. It forms extensive meadows with variable density, ranging from the surface to depths of approximately 40 meters (Pérès and Picard, 1964). The meadows of P. oceanica represent a very complex and well-structured biocenosis, hosting a highly diverse and wide range of plant and animal communities (Buia et al., 2000). They serve as crucial nursery areas for numerous fish species and provide a refuge for various organisms, including a wide variety of fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans, which hold significant economic value (Francour, 1997). Moreover, these meadows serve as vital biodiversity hubs, supporting approximately 20-25% of all Mediterranean species.

Coralligenous habitat. The coralligenous habitat is characterized by a unique bioconstruction process, where various plant and animal species produce carbonate skeletons, forming enduring macroscopic structures. Calcareous red algae (Rhodophyta), belonging to the order Corallinales, are the primary bioconstructors, laying the foundation for the habitat's formation. These structures are further strengthened by secondary bioconstructors, including Peyssonneliaceae and various polychaetes, scleractinias, and bryozoans. Typically found between 25 and 200 meters deep, coralligenous habitats thrive in dim light, calm, cool, and transparent waters, making them vital coastal ecosystems in the Mediterranean. They are renowned for their widespread distribution, biodiversity, biomass, and role in the carbon cycle (Ballesteros, 2006).

Ranked as the second most crucial biodiversity hotspot in the Mediterranean after Posidonia oceanica meadows (Bouderesque, 2004), coralligenous habitats harbor an extensive yet incompletely known array of species. Despite lacking precise estimates, their structural complexity suggests they host more species than any other Mediterranean community (Ballesteros, 2006). Besides their ecological significance, coralligenous populations serve as valuable economic resources, housing sought-after commercial species like red coral, fish, and crustaceans, while also attracting underwater tourism. The project targets ALDFGs (Abandoned, Lost or otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear) which litter the marine environment, marring and damaging habitats, thereby exacerbating their conservation status and reducing biodiversity. The objective is to identify and remove these ALDFGs from hotspots in the study area. Care will be taken to avoid further habitat damage during removal or by rendering the gear inactive. This approach aims to minimize ghost fishing and reduce undue stress on affected habitats.

ISPRA leads the project, which has been granted funding amounting to €2.805.598

The Project in the EU database