Last month, ARTEMIS Spanish partners IME-OBSAM organised a local stakeholder event in Menorca at the Club Nàutic de Ciutadella, bringing together more than 50 participants from the local community and relevant institutions. The meeting aimed to introduce the ARTEMIS project and present the activities being carried out in the Menorca pilot site.
Exactly in the site of Cala Blanca, a site that was severely impacted in 2010 due to a malfunction in a pipeline system, which caused a spill of bentonite. The sediment covered the seabed and led to the loss of Posidonia meadows that had previously thrived in the area. Following a detailed assessment conducted by IME-OBSAM in collaboration with the Government of the Balearic Islands, affected zones were mapped and designated for restoration. The study also compared the degraded ecosystem with nearby healthy Posidonia meadows, helping to define restoration priorities and techniques.
Within the identified 1,800 m² area, ARTEMIS will soon initiate the restoration of Posidonia using cuttings, under the coordination of local partner IME-OBSAM.
The November event served as an opportunity to inform local community about the activities, raise awareness of what is happening in their environment, and explain why the protection of seagrass meadows is essential. Participants also learned about the main threats to Posidonia, including anchoring and illegal trawling, and how both experts and citizens can contribute to its protection.
Eva Marsinyach, representing IME-OBSAM, presented the ARTEMIS project and explained its multi-objective approach, involving 10 partners across five European countries. Focusing on Cala Blanca, she described the blue carbon sampling carried out one year ago to quantify the carbon sequestered in the Posidonia seabed (see more). She also announced that the restoration phase will begin shortly, with Posidonia cuttings being collected, treated, and prepared for replanting at the selected site.
The event also featured contributions from invited experts, including IMEDEA scientist Jorge Terrados and Tecnambiente specialists Carlo Tidu and Júlia Romero. They shared their experience and lessons learned from previous Posidonia restoration projects, enriching the discussion and reinforcing the importance of science-based restoration efforts.
