We have made Barcelona the first maritime city in the Mediterranean to carry out a study and active restoration of its seabed with gorgonians, threatened and vulnerable animal species known for their importance as habitat providers for other species.
The Catalan capital is a pioneer in this endeavor thanks to the “Gorgonia Barcelona” project, an initiative that emerged from the European Union’s ResBios program and is developed and promoted by Belong to Sea—a company that brings the project closer to businesses and the administration to encourage their active involvement in marine biodiversity preservation—along with scientists from ICM-CSIC (Institute of Marine Sciences-Spanish National Research Council) and FECDAS (Catalan Federation of Underwater Activities).
The main goal of “Gorgonia Barcelona” is to contribute to the analysis and understanding of the seabed to improve its preservation and increase biodiversity, while also raising awareness in society about the current state of our seas and oceans. This project is presented as a nearby and tangible initiative in the short term.
Specifically, this project focuses on a species that shows resilience in complex environmental settings and is crucial for preserving the biodiversity of marine ecosystems.
Gorgonians are essential for the conservation of the seabed as they provide habitat and refuge for other species, similar to trees on land. They also help improve and repopulate the marine ecosystem of our city. The larval and juvenile stages of numerous species, such as sea bream, sea bass, and seahorses, survive better in seabeds with the presence of gorgonians.
The project consists of three phases to help increase gorgonian populations along the Barcelona coastline, demonstrating high resilience in urban environments. Restoration techniques based on transplantation are employed:
First phase: Monthly planned dives to a depth of 19 meters, in which Belong to Sea, ICM-CSIC, and FECDAS divers participate. The divers help program the outings and ensure their technical components.
Second phase: Focused on the maintenance and recovery of gorgonians in experimental aquariums at ICM.
Third phase: Dedicated to the transport and return of gorgonian colonies to the sea, followed by monitoring the recovered and transplanted colonies to evaluate their survival and growth.
It is noteworthy that this scientific project actively involves the public, making it an exceptional way to convey the company’s sustainability concepts, goals, and mission to employees.
If your company wishes to follow an environmentally committed strategy, it is essential for employees to experience and participate in projects like this to promote and drive these values.
There is only one way to change and commit society: Experience real environmental protection and understand the urgent need to take care of our environment.