The European project LIFE DREAM, led by ICM-CSIC, combines science, technology and fisheries collaboration to protect a unique area of the Alboran Sea and to gather essential data for its future management and conservation.
The research vessel Sarmiento de Gamboa, a Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructure (ICTS) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), has completed the first phase of the DREAM campaign, part of the European LIFE DREAM project led by the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), with the installation of the first artificial reefs in the Seco de los Olivos (Alboran Sea). This area is designated as a Site of Community Importance (SCI) by the European Union and is part of the Natura 2000 Network.
This pioneering active restoration action in the area will allow researchers to study the growth and recovery of different deep-sea coral species on artificial substrates, while collecting key information on biodiversity, human impact, and ocean dynamics in this ecologically valuable marine site.
Alongside the reef installation, the team carried out an extensive work program including deep-sea exploration with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) at depths greater than 500 meters, the removal of abandoned fishing gear, current and bathymetric studies, as well as monitoring of the area’s most representative species.
“Although a detailed analysis of the results is still pending, the campaign can be considered a success. Active restoration allows us to go beyond simple observation. We are studying which conditions are optimal for corals and other species to recover. These experiments are essential to design an effective management plan and ensure that the protection of the Seco de los Olivos is successful,” explains Claudio Lo Iacono, CSIC researcher at ICM and head of the campaign.
X-ray of a rich and fragile ecosystem
The expedition provided new underwater images thanks to the use of ROVs capable of descending more than 500 meters deep. These recordings confirmed the presence of a remarkable density of habitat-forming species, such as cold-water corals, as well as large pelagic species (large marine creatures) that use the area as a migratory route.
In addition, commercially important species such as lobster, red seabream and blackspot seabream were documented, along with emblematic species such as red coral and extensive black coral forests.
“Some of the colonies we observed are thousands of years old. They are very slow-growing and extraordinarily long-lived organisms, which makes them especially vulnerable. Protecting them is not only a matter of conservation, but also of ensuring the future of species that depend on them for shelter and breeding grounds,” says Ariadna Martínez, PhD researcher at ICM-CSIC and campaign participant.
The study of ocean currents was another highlight of the campaign. The complex geomorphology of the Seco de los Olivos favors upwelling processes that enrich the area with nutrients, feeding filter-feeding species and generating high biological productivity.
Science and fisheries working hand in hand
One of the most innovative aspects of the campaign was the participation of representatives from the Almería fishing sector. Salvador Martínez, member of the Fishermen Producers’ Organization (OPP) of Almería, joined the Sarmiento de Gamboa to work closely with scientists and share his knowledge of the area. This cooperation has been recognized as an exemplary model of how science and fisheries can collaborate for the benefit of marine conservation.
The LIFE DREAM project (Deep-sea Research, Ecology, and Management), co-financed by the European Commission with over three million euros, combines science, technology, and local knowledge to ensure the protection of this area, whose last exploration date back to 2012. With this campaign, the European commitment to preserving deep-sea habitats and seeking sustainable solutions that integrate all stakeholders is reinforced.