The Posidonia Connect project and this first mission in Italy bring together a leading international consortium to address a major ecological challenge : the conservation of Posidonia Oceanica meadows, essential ecosystems for Mediterranean biodiversity and resilience.
Jointly led by GIS Posidonie and the Race for Water Foundation, this project unites researchers, managers, institutions, NGOs, and economic actors from several countries to produce a shared diagnosis of seagrass health and harmonize evaluation methods at the regional scale using an ecosystem-based approach.
Aboard the MODX 70—a pioneering zero-emission vessel and inspiring demonstrator of maritime decarbonization solutions—multidisciplinary teams will conduct scientific campaigns, experiment with common protocols, and share their expertise.This collaborative approach will help consolidate a shared knowledge base, which is essential for meeting the requirements of the MSFD (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) and the Barcelona Convention, and for collectively enhancing the protection of a marine habitat highly exposed to human pressures.
Mission Objectives.
Scientific data collection.
A primary objective is to collect original, robust, and reliable data on the health status of Posidonia oceanica meadows using the same methodology across France, Italy, and Greece.
This initiative follows the work of GIS Posidonie in France, particularly the MARHA project (supported by the EU LIFE program), which assessed the relevance of the EBQI (Ecosystem-Based Quality Index; Personnic et al., 2014) for this ecosystem.
Departing from Marseille and returning toToulon, the mission will monitor around a dozen stations across Sardinia and the Gulf of Naples. The descriptors required for calculating the EBQI will be applied at these sites. This indicator is based on the assessment of the main functional compartments of the ecosystem. It includes plant vitality and structure (shoot density, coverage), filter-feeding invertebrates (e.g., sponges, bryozoans), detritivores (sea cucumbers), herbivores (sea urchins, Sarpa salpa), fish assemblages, and piscivorous seabirds (cormorants, ospreys).
Method harmonization and capacity building.
This mission represents a first step toward harmonizing methods for assessing the ecological status of Posidonia oceanicameadows across the Mediterranean.
The POSIDONIA CONNECT Italy Mission enables active knowledge sharing with France, leveraging the expertise and data already gathered by GIS Posidonie within the national territory. It also fosters strengthened collaboration among Italyn, and French scientists to adapt and improve the EBQI taking into account the biogeographical characteristics of each region. Finally, the mission facilitates skills transfer and the implementation of common protocols that meet the requirements of European directives (MSFD, HD) and the Barcelona Convention, urgentv measures for better assessing the good ecological status of Mediterranean ecosystems, particularly Posidonia meadows.
Long term perspectives.
This mission is only a first step. The ambition is to extend this approach to other Mediterranean areas, to develop a robust, homogeneous and adaptative indicator at the
basin scale, and to better address conservation and sustainable management challenges for marine ecosystems. The goal is to cover the entire Mediterranean Basin over the next few years by targeting the western basin (Balearic Sea, Alboran Sea, Spain), the Adriatic Sea, the Ionian Sea, the Aegean Sea (Greece-Turkey), and the Levantine Basin (Cyprus). The GIS Posidonie has scientific partners across all these regions, who will in turn help advance the project.
Scientific partners.
Le GIS Posidonie (Aix-Marseille)
GIS Posidonie is a Scientific Interest Group established in 1982 at the initiative of the French Ministry of the Environment and Port-Cros National Park, under the French 1901 non-profit association status. Under an agreement with Aix-Marseille University, its headquarters and permanent team are hosted in facilities provided by the Institut Pythéas at the MIO (Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography).
Contact : Bruno Belloni & Patrick Astruch, ingénieurs de recherche au GIS Posidonie
Universita degli studi di Sassari (Sardaigne)
The University of Sassari, located in northern Sardinia, hosts recognized expertise in the study of the ecology and restoration of
Posidonia oceanica seagrass beds. Two researchers will join the expedition team during its passage to collect data on Posidonia oceanica around the marine protected areas of Asinara, Capo Testa, and/or Tavolara inside partially and general protected zones.
Contact : Pr Giulia Ceccherelli et Dr Arianna Pansini.
La Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (Naples)
The Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, founded in 1872, is a world-renowned marine biology research institute, founded in 1872 and dedicated to the study of biodiversity, ecology, and fundamental processes of marine organisms. Its Posidonia oceanica research team actively works to understand the dynamics, resilience, and restoration of these essential Mediterranean ecosystems, combining ecology, molecular biology, and innovative restoration approaches.
Two researchers will join the expedition during their stay in the Gulf of Naples and surrounding.
Contact : Dr. Núria Teixidó, Dr. Irene Olivé, Dr. Gabriele Procaccini.
Why a First Mission in Italy?
Italy hosts nearly 20% of the total Mediterranean seagrass area. Their regression was documented as early as the 1990s, primarily driven by intensive coastal urbanization, land-
based pollution, and chaotic anchoring. Awareness has led to a progressive strengthening of the legal framework:
1990s–2000s: Integration into the Natura 2000 network (Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC) and designation as Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI) under the
Barcelona Convention.
2010–2020: Implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), obliging Italy to achieve a "Good Environmental Status" for marine ecosystems.
2024–2025: Adoption of national and regional action plans (e.g., Piano d'Azione per la Conservazione della Vegetazione Marina) and funding for major European projects (LIFE)
specifically targeting restoration and anchoring management.
Within the national framework, two emblematic zones illustrate this trajectory: In Sardinia, the creation of Marine protected Areas (MPAs) in the 1990s (Asinara and Tavolara in 1997) helped slow degradation, transforming these sites into "living laboratories" where citizen science (Tavolaralab) now complements institutional monitoring. In the Gulf of Naples, the response came later but was structural: facing historical degradation linked to dense coastal urbanization, industrialization, and mass tourism, the region established a recognized network of MPAs (Punta Campanella, Gaiola Underwater Park, Regno di Nettuno, Baia Underwater Archaeological Park). These zones now serve as benchmarks for studying resilience against climate stressors (Ischia) and anthropogenic pressures.
Focus on Two Pilot Territories.
Amp_Asinara
Sardinia hosts reference sites for the study of Posidonia oceanica: the Asinara MPA (unpolluted environment), Capo Testa (adjacent buffer zones), and Tavolara (a pioneer model of citizen science via the Tavolaralab program).
The key scientific interest lies in the environmental conditions distinct from the French coast: more oligotrophic waters (low in nutrients) and higher average temperatures. These parameters shape specific biological communities in terms of abundance and species. Applying the EBQI indicator in this marine area, in collaboration with the University of Sassari, validates its transferability across diverse ecological contexts
Ischia Naples
The Gulf of Naples presents an exceptional diversity of environmental contexts, with sites characterized by contrasting conditions: Ischia (CO₂ vents and "Posidonia Bonsai" morphotypes adapted to natural acidification), Sorrento (intense tourist pressure and coastal urbanization), and Bacoli (one of the most degraded sites, ideal for testing the EBQI protocol on heavily impacted habitats). As in Sardinia, temperature and oligotrophy influence the structure of communities associated with Posidonia. In collaboration with the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, the mission will assess the resilience of these
ecosystems against combined stressors (climate and anthropogenic) and share insights from a decades of monitoring.
Citizen mobilizationand mediterranean awareness.
The mission will share, communicate, and raise awareness among the public, decision-makers, and environmental managers about Mediterranean conservation challenges, in the
context of global change.
In port cities (Marseille, Naples, Toulon), media and educational events will be organized :
Press conferences
Press conferences to maximize media and public exposure for the Ocean and Climate theme, as well as the various topics addressed during this
mission.
Public conferences
Organized in collaboration with the mission’s scientists to engage the general public and local decision-makers on ocean-related issues, particularly the conservation of Posidonia and the Mediterranean ecosystem, the threats they face, and best practices for their protection.
Educational programs for school groups
High school and university students will be invited to explore the vessel and its sustainable navigation innovations through exchanges with crew members. Interactive workshops, organized in collaboration with French organizations such as La Fresque Océane, or Ocean Academy local associations, and the mission’s scientific partners, will also be offered. These workshops aim to explore the close links between ocean, climate, and biodiversity, and to better understand the complex mechanisms at play in this interdependence, particularly through the challenges of preserving Posidonia oceanica and the Mediterranean ecosystem. To maximize outreach, media and educational
activities will also take place during navigation. Influencers, media, and school classes from thetwo visited countries will have the opportunity to connect with the crew and scientists on board, to share knowledge and experiences and discover this human and scientific adventure live.
Platform for International Partners.
This platform aims to boost engagement among economic sectors affecting Posidonia oceanica, including aquaculture, anchoring, coastal artificialization, and terrestrial pollution. Through local and international media mobilization, digital campaigns (planned before, during, and after the mission), and conferences held at each stopover, the mission will highlight the pressures identified by scientific partners, along with the best solutions to preserve P. oceanica meadows. Dedicated workshops addressing localized challenges will also be organized onboard the vessel, bringing together stakeholders for
collaborative problem-solving.
©ocean-developpement-ronan-gladu
Seminar dedicated to wind power in the decarbonization of maritime transport.
This seminar, entitled "Full sail ahead for the decarbonization of maritime transport", is a forum for exchanging experiences, sharing
concrete innovations, and co-constructing a low-carbon maritime future. Designed as a highlight aboard the MODX70, this seminar aims to bring together local actors and solution providers committed to the maritime energy transition, to share expertise and approaches.s.