Corals have started to grow again in the Mediterranean

It increases exceptionally presence of corals and significantly decrease the marine waste, while there is a proliferation of numerous alien species and a worrying one decrease in posidonia vegetation.This is the situation of the Mediterranean marine environment, photographed in the latest report of theIspra, presented at a conference in Palermo as part of the national system for the protection of the marine ecosystem.

Specifically, Ispra has registered formations of corals in 8 Italian regions and 160 sites under study.The names of the main species observed are eunicella, pentapora and paramuricea.In 9 regions, within 37 monitoring areas, "rhodolith beds" were also found, i.e. small calcareous algae similar in shape to popcorn.

The data, however, are not very positive in relation to oceanic posidonia off the Italian coast, which was monitored in all the regions touched by the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas and in the lower Adriatic area.Ispra's analyzes have shown that 25 percent of the sites observed have a low density of beams per square meter, although within the approximately 100 areas monitored the density is "normal" in 63 percent of cases and "exceptional" in 11 percent.

The attestation of the strong appears relevant reduction of marine waste.In recent years, beached waste has decreased almost half, passing, for every 100 meters of coastline, from 460 in 2015 to 273 in 2021.However, the numbers are still far from the objectives that the European Union has set itself limit of 20 to be able to talk about a good environmental state.As regards waste in water, in the period 2018-2022 an average coastal density of 105 objects per square kilometre and an average offshore density of 3 objects.The objects analyzed are represented by more than 80% of artificial polymers, 20% of which is disposable plastic.

Regarding statistics on alien species, the Ispra study - which focused in particular on port areas – registered the presence of ben 78 species.Among these (20 of which are exclusive to the Adriatic Sea, 9 to the Ionian Sea and 17 to the Tyrrhenian Sea, while 11 are common to the three seas) there are 25 annelids, 18 crustaceans and 11 molluscs.

The Ispra experts instead describe the situation connected to the phenomenon of improvement aseutrophication in the sea, which consists of the process that triggers algae blooms and the reduction of oxygen due to an excess of nutrients arriving from land.To this end, a series of actions were found to be fundamental measures taken over the last 40 years, among which the reduction of phosphorus in detergents and the use of fertilizers stand out, as well as improved purification and sewage plants.

«What we present is only a small part of the work that the entire system, in collaboration with research institutions and Italian universities, is carrying out to provide useful elements for a Strategy for the sea that is effective and consistent with the objectives we derive from European and international obligations", he said Maria Siclari, general director of Ispra, speaking at the conference.«Sicily has a coastal extension of 1,637 km and the protection of the seas is a theme of primary importance for us», he then highlighted Vincenzo Infantino, general director of Arpa Sicilia, who took part as a speaker at the conference.«The marine environment – ​​he concluded – is a precious heritage that must be protected, safeguarded and restored with the ultimate aim of maintain biodiversity And preserve the vitality of the seas».

[by Stefano Baudino]