Antitrawling reefs and the protection of Posidonia oceánica (L.) Delile meadows in the western Mediterranean sea: demand and aims

Abstract

In the western Mediterranean Sea, Posidonia oceanica meadows have a great ecological and fishing interest; in spite of this fact, in several areas, meadows have been deteriorated due to multiple factors, illegal trawling fishing being one of the most relevant causes. To work out the already mentioned problem, an antitrawling artificial reef was installed in the Marine Reserve of Tabarca (Spanish SE) in 1989, which has eliminated illegal trawling, and thus it has produced a slight recovery of the meadow. Similarly, following the example of Tabarca, another antitrawling reef was placed in EI Campello, where about 45% of the total area of P. oceanica meadow had been disturbed by illegal trawling. The reef consists of 358 concrete modules giving protection to 540 ha of the meadow.