A new research collaboration started between Archipelagos Institute and the University of the West of England, with a focus on the research and the management of Posidonia seagrass meadows – the forests of our seas.

The research which will be carried out with the use of innovative techniques, will focus on the region of the northern Dodecanese and the island of Lipsi. It will support a PhD research thesis as well as a number of research projects for MSc and MRes degrees.

The protected Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows, which are only found in the Mediterranean, play a crucial role as a breeding and nursery ground in coastal waters down to 50 metres depth. Over 300 species of marine plants and 1000 species of marine animals live within Posidonia meadows, including a large number of commercially important fish species. Unfortunately, nowadays Posidonia meadows are in decline, in some cases heading towards desertification and this is more evident in the western and central Mediterranean. Some of the largest remaining extensive Posidonia meadows of the Mediterranean can be found in the northern Dodecanese waters, where they can be easily spotted on almost every coast