Ibiza, 12/04/2024 – The delicate state of the Posidonia oceanica meadows on the island of Ibiza has once again come to light today with the publication of more concerning data about the marine plant, this time in Cala Vedella, where, according to the environmental associations GEN-GOB and IbizaPreservation, there are still areas where up to 55% of the meadow is dead and shows no signs of recovery.
Recent data collected by the Marine Area of GEN-GOB highlight the concerning state of Ibiza’s Posidonia meadows. Since 2019, this organisation has conducted annual studies in both Cala Vedella and Talamanca. They shared the alarming findings for Talamanca, which revealed that over 50% of the meadow is dead, last February. The results for Cala Vedella, now being released, are equally concerning.
According to Xisco Sobrado, coordinator of the Marine Area of GEN-GOB, “The 2023 results indicate that both Talamanca and Cala Vedella are facing a fragile environmental situation driven by various uses and pressures. One of the primary factors contributing to this degradation in the submerged areas is the anchoring of vessels, coupled with declining water quality during the summer months.”
Specifically in Cala Vedella, at the station located at a depth of 14 metres, the GEN-GOB has identified that approximately 40% of the meadow is degraded. “This figure follows the trend of the results obtained in previous years and confirms that the natural regeneration capacity of the meadow is not sufficient to compensate for losses due to human-induced pressures,” stated Sobrado.
The study has been supported since 2022 by the the environmental foundation IbizaPreservation, whose director, Inma Saranova, stressed the need for urgent action: “It is extremely concerning that the environmental impacts suffered by the Posidonia meadow are undermining its ability to recover. The tourist season is just around the corner, and it is essential that these man-made impacts are controlled.”
In this regard, the monitoring work on the meadows began again this week and will continue throughout April. “Our work focuses on determining the coverage, density, and conservation status of the Posidonia at eight monitoring stations located in the areas we study,” explained Xisco Sobrado.
The study is being conducted in collaboration with the municipalities of Ibiza Town and San José, as well as the Xarxa Posidonia of the Balearic Regional Government.
This year, thanks to additional funding from IbizaPreservation, the study will also measure the sea temperature in Talamanca using newly installed sensors.
“Understanding the impact of climate change and rising sea temperatures is crucial for effectively monitoring the health of the Posidonia meadow. While we know these factors directly influence its health and regeneration capacity, we still do not fully understand their extent of impact in Ibiza. Without a comprehensive understanding of these effects, we cannot implement effective conservation and restoration measures to safeguard this vital marine ecosystem,” acknowledged Inma Saranova.
This year, IbizaPreservation has received funding from Hoss Intropia to finance part of its work, reflecting the commitment of this women’s fashion brand to the conservation of the Mediterranean.
