Latest Round of Posidonia Seagrass Meadows Planting by Divers

Divers affiliated with the Greece-based Institute of Marine Conservation Archipelagos recently conducted another round of undersea planting of Posidonia seagrass meadows (Posidonia oceanica).
According to the institute’s announcement, since 2018 Archipelagos has applied innovative techniques for undersea planting, in cooperation with scientist of some of the top universities in Europe.
The institute said the process is particularly demanding, as in the first years of growth requires a systematic care by specialized scientist-divers, nearly on a weekly basis and throughout the year.
According to the Institute:
“This great effort, which began 7 years ago, continues at an intensive pace from early spring until the end of the year. Our goal is to contribute to reversing the ever-increasing destruction of Posidonia seagrass meadows in Greek seas.
Since 2018, the Archipelagos Institute has been developing and implementing experimental underwater seagrass planting techniques, in collaboration with scientists from leading European universities. The process of planting requires taking fragments of Posidonia that have been uprooted from boat anchors and cultivating them within the short period of time that they remain alive. The planting process is particularly demanding, as in the first years of plant growth, systematic care is required by specialized scientific divers, almost on a weekly basis, below the surface of the sea and throughout the year.
Having experimented with various planting techniques in different conditions, and having published several scientific publications on the subject, one thing that is certain is that the successful development of these underwater gardens requires enormous perseverance and patience.
Their viability depends on the sea currents, the quality of the sediment, the weather conditions that prevail mainly during the first years of development, as well as the abundance of specific herbivorous species of fauna in the area. Posidonia meadows are characterized by extremely slow growth rates (about 6 cm/year), which makes their restoration a long-term challenge. This process, despite being tedious, is very important, since the seagrass helps filter the water, sequester carbon, and provides an important food source for marine life.
Since underwater Posidonia planting requires a lot of effort, such a project can only work with true and long-term dedication- it doesn’t lend itself to greenwashing efforts that are sadly so seen in this day and age in Greece… Archipelagos is dedicated to making a true difference and is committed to seeing conservation efforts like these through to support and protect the Greek seas.”