Habitats Protection Archives

The need of cartography for coralligenous and rhodoliths beds along the Mediterranean Sea: The Balearic Islands case

Coralligenous and rhodoliths beds are two types of biogenic habitats, structured by calcareous red algae. Widely distributed along the Mediterranean Sea, these formations create complex three-dimensional structures, where countless marine species –including those of high commercial value and endangered ones– feed, rest and nest. These characteristics confer the two habitats a great ecological and economic … Read more

Importance of seamounts-like features for Mediterranean marine habitats and threatened species

Oceana’s exploratory ROV’s dives in Western Mediterranean seamounts have collected more than 300 hours of video from deepsea ecosystem. Findings of threatened species and habitats, like carnivorous sponges, elasmobranches, coral gardens, sponge aggregations, coralligenous beds, etc. or even new species for science like giant foraminifera (Astrorhizidae), or new species for the Mediterranean (i.e. Anomocora fecunda), … Read more

Changing Paradigms in Seagrass Restoration

Sharing experiences and results among scientists and managers working on seagrass restoration was the main objective of the first European Seagrass Restoration Workshop that gathered researchers from around Europe. The meeting was the first forum in Europe that allowed for scientists, NGOs, and managers to interact and share their experiences relating to seagrass restoration and … Read more

Denmark stands alone in defiance against Baltic Sea marine protection agreement

Denmark threatened to effectively stop progress on a key Baltic Sea regional initiative during the HELCOM Head of Delegation meeting which took place on 14-15 December in Helsinki. This process, prioritized by the EU who is currently chairing HELCOM for the first time, represents an agreement by Baltic Sea Ministers to advance progress towards securing … Read more

Progress in marine protection hampered by rising sea pollution

On the occasion of World Oceans Day today, 8 June, Oceana warns of the detrimental impact rubbish dumping and waste pollution is having on the world’s oceans and marine wildlife. Such continued misuse of the world’s oceans as a dumping ground is hampering global conservation efforts to protect marine habitats and to restore depleted fish … Read more

Unprecedented Step towards Protection of Mediterranean Deep-Sea Habitats

Mediterranean countries have committed to develop new management measures for vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) by 2018 at the latest. These unique ecosystems include cold water coral reefs, gardens of soft corals and deep-sea sponge aggregations, which are frequently associated with high levels of biodiversity. The first action will be to define a list of Mediterranean … Read more

Denmark protects new areas with key ecosystems in Kattegat

On May 6th, the Danish government released its long-awaited decision to establish new marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Kattegat. The MPAs will protect fragile and threatened soft bottom species and habitats, such as sea pens and Haploops, which are largely left unprotected throughout European waters. Once in place, the 590 km2 areas, spread over … Read more

Tiny, But Vital, Builders of Muddy Bottom Habitats Are Vanishing

Stately kelp forests and rainbow-colored coral reefs are known for the amazing amount of life that calls these habitats home. But don’t count out the muddy seafloor, especially if it harbors a tiny crustacean called a haploops. These animals, related to the sandhoppers often found on beaches, build small mud tunnel homes that litter the … Read more

Oceana: State of Europe’s seas goes from bad to worse

According to the first State of Europe’s Seas report, published today by the European Environment Agency, our seas are neither healthy nor clean, and although they are productive at present, this may be compromised in the future if the deterioration of marine ecosystems continues. Oceana is concerned by the report’s findings, including the observed loss … Read more

Submarine topobathymetric relief map of the Alborán Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar

What the purpose of this map is and what it was made for?This relief Topobathymetric Map of the Alborán Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar is a product meant for scientific dissemination and teaching. It has been made taking advantage of the result of several studies carried out by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) … Read more