The analysis carried out by GEN-GOB, with funding from IbizaPreservation, identified points where 55% of the meadows are dead
- GEN-GOB, IbizaPreservation and the Sant Josep Town Hall presented the results of technical monitoring of seagrass in Cala Vedella.
- The meadows were studied from 2019 to 2022 without interruption.
- The three entities stressed the importance of continuing to produce data on their status and evolution over time.
IBIZA 20/09/2022 – The Posidonia Oceanica meadows at Cala Vedella show clear signs of regression according to the latest environmental study by GEN-GOB. The aim of the study, which this year was funded by IbizaPreservation, is to evaluate the current state of conservation of the meadows and their evolution over time, as well as to conduct annual monitoring of the density, coverage and quantity of dead Posidonia in the area.
Xisco Sobrado, marine technician for GEN-GOB, explained that three monitoring stations were installed in 2019 at different depths in Cala Vedella in order to measure the density and coverage of the meadow. Since then, these monitoring stations were also sampled in 2020, 2021, and 2022. The results indicate an increase in die-off across the area between 2019 and 2022.
“We found points where 55% of the Posidonia meadow is dead, which indicates that the natural regeneration capacity of the meadows in the area is not sufficient to compensate for the losses due to anthropic activity,” said Sobrado, who also explained that the values obtained for density, cover and dead meadow at the different stations in Cala Vedella indicated that local disturbances, such as anchoring by boats, are the ones that most affect the meadows.
“A meadow in a good state of conservation oxygenates the waters, captures nutrients and helps to keep the waters clean. Its gradual degradation endangers its role as a carbon fixer,” warned Sobrado.
Both GEN-GOB and IbizaPreservation insist that measures be taken urgently in Cala Vedella to halt the degradation of the Posidonia meadows. In fact, the study suggests that a reduction in the number of boats during the summer season and the installation of low-impact fixed anchorages, as well as an improvement in water quality, are among the measures necessary to help protect this valuable ecosystem.
IbizaPreservation’s director, Inma Saranova, stressed that the collection of reliable data of this kind on Posidonia Oceanica was one of the foundation’s top priorities. “We must remember that Posidonia is the lungs of the Mediterranean, with a capacity to absorb 15 times more CO2 from the atmosphere than the Amazon rainforest. Therefore we must take urgent steps to stop the ongoing degradation of this plant in our waters while there is still time, as its capacity to regenerate is very slow,” explained Saranova.
