Croatia's scientists seek to ward off threat to Posidonia seagrass
Named after Poseidon, the ancient Greek god of the sea, Posidonia oceanica, commonly known as Mediterranean tapeweed, provides food and shelter for fish, protects coasts from erosion, purifies sea water and can play a vital role in helping to tackle global warming.
A meadow of Posidonia can annually soak up to 15 times more carbon dioxide than a similar sized piece of the Amazon rainforest, scientific research has found.
But the scientists say much more needs to be done to protect it from tourist anchoring and from trawlers dragging fishing nets in the waters of the Adriatic Sea off Dugi Otok and the surrounding Kornati archipelago national park.
They have urged tougher regulations and fines for anyone breaching them.
Dominik Mihaljevic, a biologist at the national park, said the park had begun to install anchorages that would not harm the seagrass.
"Our ultimate goal is to completely prohibit anchoring at the 19 anchorage locations that are currently in use," he said.
Matea Spika, a senior associate at Croatia's Sunce environmental protection association, told Reuters Mediterranean Posidonia, endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, had declined by 30% in the last 30-to-40 years.
Apart from the issue of anchors and fishing nets, she said chemicals, excess nutrients from farms and cities, warmer waters due to climate change, and invasive species had caused further damage.
New ports and artificial beaches have also blocked sunlight essential for Posidonia's growth.
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'We obviously don't want less funding going into the climate and the atmosphere,' he said. 'But this we think – really, proportionally – needs more attention.' However, there were features of the problem that mean it lends itself more easily to solutions. 'The good thing is that this can be potentially quite easily consumer-driven if people start to worry about things they're personally buying,' Macpherson said. 'There isn't necessarily the need for a massive collective action; it can just be demand for safer products, because people want safer products.' For his part, since starting the research, Macpherson is careful about what touches his food. He cooks with a cast-iron skillet. He especially avoids heating food in plastic. 'Unfortunately, it is a recommendation to eat more organic food, but it is more expensive in general. So at least washing fruit and vegetables before eating them, but organic if you can afford it.'
Sky News
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