On 3 June 2026, the SUNBIO project successfully organised a hybrid international workshop dedicated to Posidonia oceanica Restoration at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) Campus in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain. The event brought together nearly 100 participants, including 26 on-site attendees and approximately 70 online participants, creating a dynamic space for knowledge exchange around one of the most important marine ecosystems of the Mediterranean Sea.

The workshop focused on the restoration, monitoring and long-term protection of Posidonia oceanica meadows, often described as the “lungs of the Mediterranean”. This endemic seagrass species plays a vital role in carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, coastal protection and the overall resilience of Mediterranean marine and coastal environments. At the same time, healthy Posidonia meadows are closely linked to local economies, sustainable tourism, diving activities and the quality of coastal destinations.

Through 16 oral presentations, networking sessions and open discussions, the workshop connected marine scientists, restoration practitioners, technology experts, conservation organisations, citizen science initiatives and representatives of the blue economy. The discussions highlighted the need for integrated restoration approaches that combine ecological expertise, technological innovation, practical field experience and active community engagement.

The morning session opened with a welcome by Joaquin del Rio from UPC and focused on the scientific and ecological foundations of Posidonia oceanica restoration. Presentations addressed restoration effectiveness, ecological experimentation, assisted migration, transplantation strategies, midwater aquaculture and the biological responses of Posidonia oceanica to restoration actions. Speakers presented evidence-based approaches and explored how research can support more reliable, scalable and climate-resilient restoration practices.

Following the first networking session, the second part of the morning programme shifted towards practical restoration systems and monitoring tools. Presentations explored ex situ monitoring systems, low-cost and scalable replantation methods, the use of satellite imagery and artificial intelligence for seagrass monitoring, as well as the influence of canopy density, thermal conditions and substrate selection on restoration success. These contributions underlined the importance of developing restoration solutions that are both scientifically robust and applicable at larger spatial scales.

The afternoon session, moderated by Frederik Veger from UPC, placed strong emphasis on socio-ecological models, citizen science, site selection, national restoration goals, nursery-based approaches and robotics-assisted monitoring. Speakers presented community-rooted restoration initiatives, local monitoring actions through citizen science, remote sensing workflows for identifying suitable restoration sites, and the role of seagrass restoration in supporting climate and biodiversity objectives.

The session also highlighted examples from different Mediterranean and coastal contexts, including restoration work in Mallorca, Barcelona, Greece and Gibraltar. The final presentation focused on the use of artificial intelligence, autonomous underwater vehicles, smart observatories and robotics-based monitoring to bridge traditional ecological methods with emerging marine technologies.

The workshop concluded with an open discussion on the future of Posidonia oceanica restoration. Participants emphasised that successful restoration requires stronger collaboration between science, technology, local communities and policy-oriented actors. Key points included the need to select suitable restoration sites, develop low-cost and scalable methods, apply reliable long-term monitoring tools and strengthen knowledge exchange between researchers, practitioners and conservation organisations.

Overall, the workshop confirmed that the restoration of Posidonia oceanica is not only an environmental priority, but also a key contribution to sustainable Blue Growth, coastal resilience and the long-term well-being of Mediterranean communities. By bringing together expertise from different disciplines and sectors, the SUNBIO workshop contributed to the wider effort of scaling up marine regeneration and protecting one of the Mediterranean’s most valuable natural assets.

For those who were unable to attend, the full recording of the workshop, including the oral presentations and discussion sessions, is available on the SUNBIO YouTube channel:

We would also like to warmly thank Travel Daily News for the dedicated publication on the SUNBIO workshop and its contribution to raising awareness about the importance of Posidonia oceanica meadows for sustainable tourism and marine ecosystem protection:

https://www.traveldailynews.gr/enallaktikos-toyrismos/sunbio-diethnis-symmachia-gia-ta-livadia-poseidonias-kai-ton-viosimo-toyrismo/

For more information about the SUNBIO project, its activities and future updates, stay connected through our website and communication channels.

Read the full Press Release here.

Find the agenda of the workshop here.