[Archipelagos Institute]
Marine scientists from the Archipelagos Institute are planting underwater seagrass gardens around the island of Lipsi in a pilot effort to restore Posidonia oceanica meadows, vital habitats for Mediterranean marine life.
Using fragments dislodged by boat anchors and, rarely, seeds produced every 5-10 years, divers plant the slow-growing seagrass with biodegradable materials. “Our aim is to reverse the increasing destruction of Posidonia meadows in Greek seas,” said Anastasia Miliou, the institute’s research director.
Posidonia meadows, some over 10,000 years old, support more than 1,000 animal and 300 plant species, absorb carbon dioxide far more efficiently than tropical forests, protect coasts and produce oxygen. Yet over a third have been destroyed by anchoring, illegal trawling, fish farming, construction and climate change.
Archipelagos is also urging Greece to improve mapping, enforce protections, and install mooring systems to prevent anchor damage, warning that full recovery can take over a century.
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