The initiative, endowed with more than 3 million euros for the next three years, will focus on the recovery of key marine habitats such as seagrass meadows, coralligenous reefs, and rhodolith beds.
The Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC) will play a fundamental role in the execution and scientific coordination of the new Strategic Plan for the restoration of marine ecosystems in Catalonia (PEREMCAT). Officially presented by the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food of the Generalitat of Catalonia on June 8th within the framework of World Oceans Day, this plan is the first comprehensive instrument for planning and action in marine ecological restoration of these characteristics in the territory and is born as a pioneering tool in Europe.
With an investment of more than 3 million euros and an execution horizon planned until 2028, the project aims to give a decisive response to the climate and environmental changes affecting our coastline. To achieve this, it joins the efforts of the scientific community to work in a coordinated manner on the recovery of seabed habitats, promoting sustainability, applied knowledge, and the boost of the blue economy.
The ICM-CSIC scientific team involved in the project is part of a consortium of institutions among which are also the Blanes Centre for Advanced Studies (CEAB-CSIC), the University of Barcelona (UB), and the University of Girona (UdG). Our research staff will provide their expertise in the study and conservation of the seabed through various research groups, leading and participating in tasks that combine strategic planning with direct actions on the territory.
Within the work program, the institute's team will initially focus on the assessment and diagnosis of the conservation status of marine habitats on the Catalan coast, analyzing the main human and climatic pressures and threats they suffer. Likewise, specific reference values and scientific markers will be designed to measure the real recovery capacity of these spaces. Subsequently, actions and pilot projects will be launched in critical habitats of high ecological value that serve as a refuge for biodiversity and are essential for fisheries, such as seagrass meadows, coralligenous reefs, and rhodolith fields, which will allow validating new large-scale restoration techniques.
This new roadmap anticipates the future requirements of European regulations and aligns directly with the international context of nature restoration, the European Pact for Oceans, and the Maritime Strategy of Catalonia 2030. Beyond the strictly scientific and ecological objectives, the ICM-CSIC will also actively promote the transfer of knowledge towards the administration, the fishing sector, and civil society. Through technical conferences, informative materials, and different spaces for participation, it will seek to involve all citizens in the preservation of the marine environment, consolidating a governance model based on scientific evidence to guarantee the long-term health of the Catalan Sea.
In addition to the research centers involved, the project is promoted by the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food through the Directorate-General for Maritime Policy and Sustainable Fisheries, in coordination with the Directorate-General for Environmental Policies and the Natural Environment, the Catalan Water Agency, and the Directorate-General for Coastal Policies of the Generalitat of Catalonia.