BlueLab

The BlueLab project is based on a marine stewardship agreement, a relatively underexplored concept in Europe’s protected areas and the marine Natura 2000 network. In 2021, the Department of Climate Action, Agriculture and Rural Agenda (DACC) of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the City Council of Llançà, and SUBMON signed the agreement, which covered the marine area of the Natura 2000 Network ES5120014- La Albera, located on the beaches of Canyelles and el Rastell, in the municipality of Llançà. This collaborative endeavour aims to conserve and promote the marine biodiversity within this area while raising awareness among the local community about its protective designation.

Marine stewardship is a conservation and protection strategy aimed at fostering responsibility among competent organisations and users of the marine environment for its preservation and sustainable resource utilisation. This legal agreement, applied to the marine space of L’Albera, regulates all protective, conservation, restoration, and awareness initiatives conducted by SUBMON in this area. It complements the efforts of the authorities in managing the protected zone.

Since the inception of the marine stewardship commitment, SUBMON has directed its efforts towards assessing the environmental conservation status of the area, leading to the identification of various anthropogenic impacts. Some of these impacts are the impoverishment of water quality, global warming, or the mechanical impact on the seabed, mainly caused by boat mooring and anchoring. As a result, a series of targeted actions have been implemented in the area in order to address these impacts.

The study of the environmental status of the area started as soon as the contract was signed. During this initial assessment, we examined the density and coverage of Neptune seagrass shoots and mapped 30,000m² of Posidonia oceanica meadows.

As a result of this initial assessment, various anthropogenic impacts were identified. In many cases, these were due to visitors’ lack of knowledge of the protected area and the lack of monitoring and control of human activities in the area.

One of the threats identified was the unregulated anchoring of recreational vessels. Anchors, chains, and concrete blocks placed without permission by users create a mechanical impact on the meadows, leading to habitat degradation. In this context, we proceeded to locate and extract anchor blocks that were impacting the meadows. A total of 16 objects were removed, with a total weight of 1.72 tons of waste. In order to raise awareness about this issue, we also organised educational days for the local population, organisations and tourism companies in the area.

SUBMON technician preparing for shoot density calculation in the area.

Neptune seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) plays a key ecological role as a fundamental habitat for many plant and animal species. It is decisive in many processes, such as mitigating the effects of climate change, capturing and fixing carbon dioxide, and protecting the coast from the impact of storms. For these reasons, it is a protected species at European, national, and regional levels.

Submon initially conducted a comprehensive assessment of the Neptune seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) meadow, leading to the launch of a pilot project aimed at replanting shoots of this seagrass species torn up by storms. The goal was to evaluate a non-destructive methodology for restoring degraded Neptune seagrass areas. Unlike conventional methods, which involve using cuttings from healthy meadows, this pilot trial used recovered shoots that have been naturally uprooted by storms. To date, 243 Neptune seagrass shoots have been successfully replanted, selecting the most viable specimens and using biodegradable bamboo canes to secure them to the substrate. Four months after replanting the first shoots, partial results showed a survival rate of 74.8%.

It’s worth noting that replanting Neptune seagrass shoots is a delicate task since this species is very sensitive to any disturbance. In fact, previous studies have shown a low survival rate for shoots after three years, underscoring the need for ongoing research into various methodologies and the necessity for long-term monitoring of replanted shoots. In light of this, SUBMON’s project has three clear objectives: first, to avoid impacting healthy meadows, focusing solely on replanting shoots that couldn’t thrive independently; second, to conduct sustained environmental monitoring of the replanted shoots within the stewardship area; and third, to engage the community in the project. This involvement extends beyond shoot recovery to using the project’s context to educate and raise awareness about the vital role of Neptune seagrass meadows.

In this stewardship area, our efforts have extended beyond just replanting Neptune seagrass shoots. As part of the Pan-Mediterranean larval-collector network, in 2021, 2022 and 2023, we installed noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis) larvae collectors. This extraordinary bivalve mollusc, endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, flourishes in seagrass meadows, particularly those dominated by Posidonia. With some specimens reaching over a meter in length, it stands as a symbolic figure in the Mediterranean. Since late 2016, a notable decline in the Noble Pen Shell population along the Spanish coast has been observed, primarily attributed to a recently identified parasite, Haplosporidium pinnae. This parasite has led to a staggering 99% mortality rate among Noble Pen Shells on the Spanish Mediterranean coast and has subsequently spread to other regions.

In our dedication to safeguarding this vital species, we have implemented a series of strategic measures within our stewardship area. These encompass the meticulous placement of collectors, routine integrity checks, and periodic cleanings to ensure their continued effectiveness. Finally, as the last step, we conducted a thorough evaluation to assess the potential recruitment of noble pen shell larvae.

Installation of noble pen shells larvae collectors.

BlueLab stands as an innovative project that focuses on local engagement, showing the growing importance of communities in the restoration and conservation of protected habitats and species. Since its inception, BlueLab has managed to actively involve the Llançà community and local entities, thus promoting a better appreciation of the marine protected area. An excellent instance of this community engagement occurred during the Neptune seagrass replanting campaign, with local citizens actively participating in shoot collection, while other local entities offered their invaluable support.

BlueLab has also achieved remarkable outcomes through community-driven and citizen science initiatives. A great example was the launch of a co-creation workshop with the local community aimed at designing a citizen science project to monitor the marine biodiversity in the area. Thanks to the collaboration with EmpordaiNAT, an observation layer was created in the iNATURALIST app, with a record of over 4372 species observed by more than 77 users.

Additionally, the program “Sentinels of L’Albera” has garnered the support of 50 individuals who have actively committed to protecting the space and fostering environmental awareness within the community. Besides, on World Oceans Day, we organised an event called “Llançà’t per la conservació” to increase awareness about the Albera Natura 2000 Network area and its diverse marine life. We aimed to inspire individuals to safeguard this natural wonder and admire its exceptional beauty up close.

The awareness efforts to promote respectful use of the area and to raise awareness about its protected status have proven highly successful. Nearly two years since the beginning of the stewardship agreement, there has been a noticeable positive shift in how the local community values the protected marine area. Both local authorities and citizens have become more involved in its conservation. In essence, the BlueLab project is a shining example of how citizen involvement can significantly contribute to the recovery, restoration, and preservation of protected marine areas.