Seagrass meadows are powerful carbon sinks, locking away carbon up to 30 times faster than tropical rainforests. These lush ecosystems also provide vital nursery habitats for marine life and protect coastal environments. But they are disappearing fast: global loss is around 7% per year, according to UNEP.
Now, off the coast of Barcelona, Spain, a new approach to seagrass restoration is taking shape. The Seagrass Blue project is pioneering a method to cultivate Posidonia oceanica, a key Mediterranean seagrass species, like an aquaculture crop – using floating structures offshore. But how do these work?
Rethinking Seagrass Restoration
Seagrass naturally thrives in clear, shallow waters—usually at depths of around 10 metres. However, these areas are becoming increasingly disturbed by human activities like boating, coastal development, and pollution – which makes traditional seagrass restoration tricky. Even when replanted, seagrass struggles to survive long-term.
The Seagrass Blue project takes a different approach, addressing the problem at its roots. Instead of replanting seagrass in coastal areas where conditions are often poor, the team is farming seagrass offshore, away from human impact. The idea is simple: give the young seagrass meadows the best possible start before they’re later transplanted closer to shore.
How do we Monitor the Floating ‘Seagrass Farm’?
To work on this project, the team at Seagrass Blue – in partnership with CatchCam Technologies (CCTech), the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, and the EMSO-ERIC programme—has set up floating seagrass pods offshore, about 4km from Barcelona. These pods act like seed trays, giving young seagrass a stable environment to grow strong roots.
But how do you keep an eye on a seagrass farm 20 metres underwater and miles from shore? That’s where CatchCam Technologies comes in.
CatchCam’s underwater camera system is attached to a solar-powered buoy, with a 20-metre tether feeding power to the camera and a 4G connection streaming live footage back to shore. This setup means the team can monitor seagrass growth in real time, check for any issues, and see what marine life is moving in.
“Each project we’re adding something new,” says Chris Lewis, CTO of CatchCam Technologies, who is also involved in the Seagrass Blue initiative. “That’s what’s exciting about working with different teams — we are adapting CatchCam technology to meet new challenges everytime.”
Real-Time Monitoring for Offshore Seagrass Restoration
Initially, the project deployed Marine Bees – small, self-contained monitoring units with an adorable rounded shape, dare we say it! But for this project, the team has built on that technology, pairing it with an even more robust and adaptable system for long-term offshore monitoring.
In addition to the camera system, the team is also planning to deploy SeaSensor, a standalone monitoring unit collecting oceanographic data like temperature, turbidity, salinity, and water quality. Understanding these environmental conditions will help fine-tune the growing process, making sure the seagrass is in the best possible shape before it’s moved to its final location.
Next Steps: Scaling Up to 10 Hectares
The first stage of the project has been a success, and now the team is looking to take it further. The goal is to expand the farm to 10 hectares, which would make a big impact in terms of restoring lost seagrass meadows in the Mediterranean, while also locking away carbon from the atmosphere.
Right now, the team is tracking the results: watching the seagrass grow, collecting the data, and learning what works best; while also actively securing funding to make this happen.
If you’re working on a biodiversity monitoring project and need a robust underwater solution, reach out to see how we can help.
