Scientists and fishermen have merged to the project ‘Life Ecoreset’ with which one tries to protect and Recovery 30,000 hectares of marine habitats Located on the coast that unites the Catalan provinces of Barcelona and Gerona.
In addition to the project, in addition to environmental associations, the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, the University of Barcelona and of course the Essential fishing sector of the area that has most of these waters.
In this way and with this close cooperation and hand science professionals let fishermen participate so that they are more aware of the problem; While connecting to this project.
Scientists and fishermen, united to restore the sea and marine habitats between Barcelona and Gerona
An initiative that tries to restore Deep marine habitats in the Mediterranean Sea It agrees with the scientific knowledge and traditional knowledge of the fisherman’s sector: “They make us the problem and the participants in the project,” says Vissers.
This is the ‘Life Ecorest’ project, which is planning to restore around 30,000 hectares of deep marine habitats along the coast of Barcelona and Girona, with the participation of various nature defense organizations offered by the scientific sailboat ‘Blue Panda’ to do this Biodiversity Definition work on the Costa Brava.
The Institute of Sea Sciences (ICM-CSIC), the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, the University of Barcelona and the essential fisherman’s sector.
It is common for fishermen to accidentally collect structural organisms such as corals, Gorgonias or sponges that are stuck in their networks, but until recently their destination was not a priority. The president of the Catalan National Federation of the Brotherhoods of VissersAntoni Abad, Efe explained that the relationship between the scientific world and the fisherman fisherman was far away for years.
Now the relationship is closer because researchers make fishermen “Knowing the problem and also being part of the project”, which encourages “they are delivered and dedicated”, “ Abad has noticed.
De Visser has acknowledged that before they work with scientists, when they gathered the organisms with their networks, they prioritized the fish: “Then you were worried about the coral, but you had already traveled through the sea for ten miles.”
Return the coral The sea so far from its original habitat has drastically reduced its possibilities for survival. But now, thanks to the collaboration with scientists, the fishermen, instead of throwing them overboard, they carefully deposit them in water and transfer them to the harbor, where their recovery begins.
This is the first step of a joint work chain with researchers from the Institute of Sea Sciences (ICM-CSIC), which transforms what was previously “a fish residues” on an opportunity to restore “essential ecosystems” of the Mediterranean Sea.
The Biodiversity Recovery process of these Marine Habitats
As soon as they arrive at the fraternities, ICM-CSIC researchers check the collected samples: they select those who are in the best and prepare them for their reintroduction in the seabed after having spent a few weeks in repair aquariums.
“In stone holes are made and the coral has been determined with a special resin so that it is upright and oriented to the current,” explains the ICM-CSIC Marina Biel researcher, who added that “if they were to be released, they would fall aside and be covered with sediment, which would prevent its survival.”
This method, baptized as ‘Bádminton’ by its form comparable to the ball used in this sport, makes more than 90 % of the planned organisms and survival. In fact, it is the fishermen themselves who The restored colonies return to the sea, in rim areas where fish is forbidden.
Once a year, scientists follow these areas through submarine robots that analyze and study the survival of organisms or start using these structures such as lobsters or villains, such as refuge or reproduction zone.
So far, the project has returned more than 3,000 Gorgonias, corals and sponges of 35 different species.
One of those who are responsible for this project confirmed that the participation of the fisherman’s sector “gives knowledge” from the day to day of what is happening in the sea, in addition to “traditional ecological knowledge that gives great information to researchers.” He also emphasized the training in the project: “The idea is that fishermen can be autonomous in the future and can make restorations themselves.” EFE / ECOTICIA.COM