CABALGA: Innovative and inclusive measures for the recovery and conservation of benthic communities in the Mediterranean and Galician Atlantic

Pleamar program

The degradation caused by anthropogenic impacts in marine protected areas requires urgent strategies to promote their conservation. In addition, reducing fishing impacts and the use of anchors in Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) has become a priority following the recommendations of the United Nations and FAO.

In EMVs, the main organisms are corals which, together with Posidonia oceanica and laminaria forests, serve as a place of refuge, feeding and breeding for a large number of species of commercial interest. However, anthropogenic activities compromise the viability of their populations and lead to a reduction in the stock of associated commercial species.

The CABALGA project was born with the aim of contributing to mitigating these anthropogenic effects through the restoration of gorgonians, Posidonia oceanica and Laminaria, and also to the maintenance of ecosystem services through a more sustainable fishing and EMV use plan.

Project

Line of action:

Marine ecosystems

Status:

Finalizado

Execution date:

2024

End date:

2025

Project web page:

https://www.programapleamar.es/proyectos/cabalga-medidas-innovadoras-e-inclusivas-para-la-recuperacion-y-conservacion-de

Objectives

The CABALGA project aims to execute and evaluate the feasibility of ecological restoration actions and mitigation of the impacts of artisanal fishing on benthic communities dominated by gorgonians, Posidonia oceanica and laminaria. To achieve this objective, the project is structured in four specific objectives:

To promote collaboration between the scientific, fisheries and social sectors in the conservation and restoration of marine biodiversity.
Contribute to mitigating the impacts of artisanal fishing and restoration of benthic communities in marine protected areas.
Study the evolution and monitoring of restored species in their natural habitat in order to conserve marine ecosystems.
To highlight the importance of conservation of marine biodiversity and the involvement of society in the restoration of ecosystems in protected areas.

Results

A1. Collection and maintenance of species alive
During this activity, accidentally caught marine organisms have been recovered and optimal maintenance conditions have been guaranteed until their reintroduction. A total of 791 gorgonians have been collected (138 in Formentera and 653 in Galicia), 3946 bundles of Posidonia oceanica and 1,789 cultivated laminaria. Likewise, seven fishermen have been trained in recovery and maintenance techniques for these species (three in Galicia and four in Formentera), contributing to the strengthening of local capacities for marine conservation. The results have far exceeded the initially planned targets and provided a solid foundation for subsequent restoration phases.

A2. Restoration of species in their natural habitat
The active restitution of organisms to the natural environment has made it possible to effectively restore benthic communities. 820 gorgonians have been reintroduced (152 in Formentera and 668 in Galicia), 3,946 bundles of Posidonia oceanica and 1,789 laminaria, exceeding the objectives set for each species. The deep gorgonians have been fixed to boulders using the badminton method, while the posidonia bundles were fixed using specialized diving techniques and the seeds of laminaria have been reintroduced into their natural habitat. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the restoration techniques implemented and the feasibility of the reintroduction of benthic organisms under controlled conditions.

A3. Underwater robotic tracking
To evaluate the effectiveness of the restorations, monitoring campaigns have been carried out with underwater robotics. In total, 12 video transepts have been carried out (exceeding the eight planned) in the Cap de Creus Natural Park and in areas of Galicia. The information obtained has made it possible to document the status of the reintroduced gorgonians and to analyse the evolution of the restored communities. The data collected constitute a robust scientific basis for the evaluation of the efficacy of restoration techniques and for the design of future interventions.

A4. Monitoring of restorations
Specific monitoring campaigns have been developed to evaluate the survival and evolution of reintroduced organisms. In addition, two oceanographic campaigns have been carried out for gorgonians, one in Formentera and the other in Galicia, with video-transect recordings (20 transects in Galicia and 13 in Formentera). The monitoring of Posidonia oceanica has been carried out through ten days of diving, applying photographic tracking. The laminaria have also been evaluated during ten days of diving.
The technical reports generated include the detailed description of the monitoring operations, the analysis of the transects obtained and the evaluation of the status and survival of the restored species. These results confirm the viability of the restoration techniques applied and provide relevant scientific information on the recovery of benthic communities in the intervened areas.

A5. Environmental awareness and education
The project has far exceeded the objectives of environmental education. The participation of 550 students in workshops for the care and maintenance of biodiversity, 520 people in guided tours of species maintenance facilities and 609 participants in theoretical-practical workshops on restoration of marine ecosystems has been achieved. In addition, various activities have been carried out in an environmental festival, including beach cleaning days, recycling workshops and awareness activities with children, reaching a total of 217 participants. These actions have contributed to raising public awareness of the importance of marine biodiversity and have encouraged active participation in the conservation of ecosystems.

Entity / grouped entities