Staff from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC) in the Balearics are taking part in a European project to determine the effects of pollution and climate change on the Bay of Pollensa.
On Thursday 30 October, the group of researchers took part in the launch meeting for two new projects funded by the Interreg Euro-MED and Interreg Next Med programmes, called Miramar and MedProact.
In a statement, the IEO indicated that these projects are a continuation of the “Plastic Busters” initiative and are being launched from the outset as a coordinated strategy to address the main environmental challenges facing the Mediterranean. The event, held at the headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) in Barcelona, brought together scientific institutions, public administrations, regional entities and civil society organisations from across the Mediterranean basin with the aim of ‘strengthening cooperation and moving towards a healthier and more resilient sea’.
The Mediterranean is one of the world’s seas most affected by human activity, with cumulative effects from plastic pollution, emerging pollutants, underwater noise and habitat loss and fragmentation, threats exacerbated by climate change. These pressures impact biodiversity, fisheries, social well-being and the resilience of coastal communities. The Miramar project focuses on ‘improving scientific knowledge and strengthening regional cooperation to respond to these complex challenges and their cumulative impacts.’
In particular, three Mediterranean ecosystems of high ecological value have been identified: seagrass beds (such as Posidonia), wetlands, and habitats of endangered species. ‘These ecosystems play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity, supporting fisheries and protecting coastlines from erosion and climate impacts, as well as providing important ecosystem services,’ they emphasised.
The project aims to develop an ‘innovative’ and ‘harmonised’ methodology to monitor the cumulative impact of selected stress factors in nine pilot areas distributed across Albania, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy and Spain, as well as in the three identified habitats. One of the pilot areas is located in the Bay of Pollensa, designated as a Site of Community Importance (SCI) in the Natura 2000 network and part of a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA), with marine habitats containing ecosystems and species of ‘high conservation value’ such as extensive Posidonia oceanica meadows and other phanerogams, macroalgae and coralligenous communities.
‘The project will also develop a catalogue of good practices and pollution mitigation, based on real experiences and success stories in the Mediterranean,’ explained IEO researcher Carme Alomar. Miramar involves the participation of eight partner organisations and the support of 14 associated partners, including protected area managers, environmental authorities and international organisations, with the aim of ‘ensuring that scientific results are translated into effective policies and actions’.