Project duration: October 2024 – October 2025
Status: Ongoing
Grantee: University of Oxford
Co-funded by: The Rauch Foundation  

THE CHALLENGE:

Poros island hosts extensive Posidonia seagrass meadows, vital marine ecosystems that support biodiversity, produce oxygen, and protect coastlines from erosion. However, the increasing presence of fish farms around the island poses a growing threat to these crucial habitats. Despite concerns from the scientific community and locals, there has been a lack of concrete data assessing the extent of the impact of aquaculture activities on Posidonia meadows.  

THE SOLUTION:

To address this knowledge gap, AEF and the Rauch Foundation brought in the renowned University of Oxford to conduct an in-depth study on the impacts of existing fish farms on Posidonia meadows. This project integrates scientific expertise with local knowledge, engaging professional community divers to assist in data collection. By combining field surveys with long-term satellite imagery analysis, the research aims to quantify the effects of fish farming on Posidonia health and distribution. The Posidonia seagrass mapping, co-funded by the two Foundations and implemented by iSea, provided some initial insights and the collaboration among the University and the research organisation has been highly valuable. In addition, the contribution of the local organisation Katheti, with its deep knowledge of the area and the fish farming landscape, is significantly supportive to the research.  

The project comprises fieldwork for data collection through dive surveys at sites near fish farms and at control sites in unaffected areas. Using a non-invasive assessment methodology, including photo quadrats and underwater visual census techniques, key environmental indicators such as shoot density, biomass, and leaf length will be measured to evaluate the condition of seagrass beds. Photographic and tabular data will then be analysed, while historical satellite imagery will be additionally examined to identify long-term trends in seagrass cover. 

THE OUTCOMES:

The study will examine changes in meadow cover and seagrass performance across varying distances from fish farms to determine whether, and to what extent, fish farm sites in Poros have impacted the Posidonia meadows. 

OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATION: 

The University of Oxford has led extensive research on seagrass ecosystems, including Posidonia meadows, using marine ecology and satellite analysis to assess human impact. Their work in the Mediterranean provides key scientific insights for conservation efforts, strengthening this project’s evidence-based approach 

READ ALSO: 

Posidonia Oceanica: Our Valuable Underwater Forests

Thalassa Mana Concert: A Harmonious Blend of Art and Environmental Awareness

Mapping the Posidonia oceanica Seagrasses of Poros and Methana

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