MEDSEA is studying anti-trawling solutions derived from marble processing waste in Sardinia with the University of Cagliari - DICAAR Department as a natural continuation of the "Saturn" Anti-trawling Structures for the Natural Restoration and Protection of the Sinis Peninsula - Mal Di Ventre Island. At the beginning of the year, in the SATURN project in collaboration with the Flag Pescando Sardegna Occidentale, about sixty concrete anti trawling systems were placed off the Sinis Coast to inhibit illegal trawling and the advance of nets in the seabed.
This summer, thanks to the collaboration between the MEDSEA Foundation and the DICAAR of the University of Cagliari, circular economy solutions from the sea are being studied, directly from the marble quarries of Orosei of Sardegna Marmi. The project is called "Poseidone" and its aim is to defend the sea from illegal trawling in protected and sensitive areas, which is causing damage to the posidonia seagrass and seabed.
This millennial extraction activity in Sardinia has produced a considerable amount of waste, over 100 million cubic meters of natural building materials of excellent quality that remain unused. The use of materials from the local context and not alien offers the possibility to use them in sensitive areas for environmental protection. In Orosei, for example, for every cubic meter of marble extracted, 3 cubic meters of waste rock are produced. This waste is accumulated in a pile of over 3.5 million cubic meters, occupying an area of 16 hectares and with a height exceeding 20 meters, causing a significant landscape impact.
The anti-trawling structures made in this way use the residues of marble cultivation in Sardinia, protecting the posidonia, preserving the underwater landscape, and providing excellent support to marine organisms that colonize the interstices and cavities of the rocks. These structures are a refuge for many marine species.
"The advantages of local anti-trawling systems are also linked to the original lithology of the sea and the landscape context of the Gulf of Orosei, characterized by numerous boulders and limestone blocks resulting from the disintegration of the cliffs," explains Mauro Coni, project coordinator and representative of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architecture Engineering.
"Trawling is a highly harmful practice for marine ecosystems - explains Alessio Satta, president of the MEDSEA Foundation - The nets dragged along the seabed remove and indiscriminately destroy every form of life they encounter along their path: fish, invertebrates, corals, algae and, in particular, the precious Posidonia oceanica. These nets, like a bulldozer, flatten and scrape the seabed, erasing every refuge for fauna and compromising the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. The result is a desolate and devastated environment, where the original biological communities struggle to reestablish, requiring long times and significant efforts for their regeneration. It is crucial to put an end to this destructive practice in order to preserve marine biodiversity and ensure a sustainable future for our seas."
Hence the idea of designing anti-trawling deterrents Made in Sardinia to use the waste rocks from the marble quarries. These rocks are equipped with slender flexible harpoons, specially designed to block the nets and release the cables of the boats in a controlled manner. Sardegna Marbles, thanks to its willingness to support the experimentation providing materials and logistics, has turned a quarry into a set for filming for a day, on the occasion of the visit of journalists from National Geographic who are working on a special.
Pics: DICAAR / Università degli studi di Cagliari
Latest news
DEEP DIVE: The Alarming State of the Ocean – Inspiring Action and Searching for Solutions (Webinar)
In celebration of World Ocean Day, MEDSEA invites you to the online event "Deep Dive: The Alarming State of the Ocean", a detailed analysis of the challenges that oceans are…
Fire Monitoring Test successfully conducted in Santu Lussurgiu thanks to IoT Technologies
At the end of April, a major breakthrough in fire prevention technology was achieved in the forests of San Leonardo. Thanks to pre-fire detection sensors, an IoT (Internet of Things) technology developed and…
REST COAST, at the annual meeting in Groningen, demonstrates the effectiveness of natural restoration of aquatic systems
The standstill of the Nature Restoration Law, the European law on nature restoration, stalled in its final approval phase in the Council due to the hesitations of some Member States, has…
TransformAr makes a stop in Finland for the sixth Consortium Meeting
In mid-April, the sixth Consortium meeting of the H2020 TransformAr Project was held in Lappeenranta, recognized as the Climate Capital of Finland. This city truly exemplifies sustainability, with 100% of waste recycled and all…
Launch of the PLASTRON Project in Genoa: A Cross-Border Initiative for the marin Plastic & Paper Recycling
The PLASTRON project is about to start. With the goal of improving the sustainability of local communities by providing knowledge and tools for collecting and transforming plastic from the coast…
Wetland4Change to Address Climate Change with Wetlands, Kickoff in Sofia
Last week, hosted by the University of Forestry in Sofia, the kickoff of "Wetland4Change" took place, marking the start of an ambitious Interreg Euro-MED project within the Natural Heritage Mission aimed at…
The Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area towards a New Zoning with Blue4All
A new co-management model to reorganise marine protected areas, benefiting from all the tools and knowledge provided by the Blue4All project will be soon implemented in Sardinia. Later last month, preliminary meetings…
TransformAr, Adaptation Pathways to Climate Change for Fishing Validated, All Set for Sensor Installation
TransformAr enters its most operational phase at the pilot site in Oristano where, in March, the MEDSEA team met with the Municipality of Terralba and the fishermen of the San Giovanni Lagoon from the Marceddì Consortium to…
Revitalizing the Mediterranean: ARTEMIS Project Unites Environment and Innovation
March marked the launch of "Artemis", a project of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme that seeks to combine the ecological benefits of seagrass with innovative financial strategies, such as Payment for Ecosystem…
Petit Noirs: From Senegal to Arborea to Combat Illegal Immigration with Mussel Farming
Sustainable mussel farming in Arborea becomes an international example with a project linking Dakar, Senegal, with Sardinia, aiming to combat illegal immigration and generate economic opportunities.
The Charm of Wetlands in Sardinia: Over a Thousand Visitors in the World Wetlands Day Event Calendar in Sardinia"
With over 30 events, from January 27 to March 10, 2024, the MEDSEA World Wetlands Day in Sardinia comes to a close. The initiative, which falls in the month when wetlands are…
First Meeting of the DesirMED Project in Venice: A Step Forward in Climate Adaptation in the Mediterranean
Last month, the historic city of Venice hosted the first meeting of DesirMED, a project funded by the HORIZON Europe program aimed at addressing one of the most pressing challenges of…
Sails Towards the Future: The UniCa Sailing Team and the Challenge of Eco-Sustainable Boats in Sardinia
In Sardinia, circular and low-impact solutions for water sports and sailing are being studied. The University of Cagliari, together with the UniCa Sailing Team, is working on the construction of an…
The first General Assembly kicked off in Lecce: for a more resilient MPAs network
The first General Assembly of the "Blue 4 All" project took place in Lecce from January 23 to 26, 2024. The event, hosted by the CMCC Climate - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate…
It's Time to Celebrate Wetlands: join World Wetlands Day Sardegna 2024
In Sardinia, February is the month of wetlands! We celebrate World Wetlands Day on the occasion of February 2nd, which marks the 53rd anniversary of the establishment of the RAMSAR Convention for…
TransformAR Reaches Halfway: The Progress in the San Giovanni Lagoon
TransformAR, at the pilot site of Marceddì-San Giovanni (Terralba) in Sardinia, one of the six demonstration sites of the project, is gaining momentum. The project, which develops transformative adaptation solutions to climate change…
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4