Posidonia oceanica is a seagrass species found growing in the Mediterranean Sea in depths of up to 40 metres (131 feet). It is one of the oldest living beings on earth, living up to 100,000 years.

Known as the ‘lung of the Mediterranean’, Posidonia forms large underwater meadows and is paramount to the underwater ecosystems by providing important sources of oxygen. Posidonia has a very high carbon absorption capacity, being able to soak up 15 times more carbon dioxide every year than a similar sized piece of the Amazon rainforest. It also protects beaches from erosion by decreasing the power of swell by 20%. Additionally, Posidonia houses over 400 plant species and over 1,000 animal species.

Anchoring and Posidonia

The Posidonia meadows are declining in many parts of the Mediterranean due to pollution, coastal development (such as urban and harbour infrastructure) and fishing activities. The overall decline has been measured as approximately 10% over the last 100 years, but a recent analysis indicates a 34% decline in the past 50 years.

However, the main cause of Posidonia demolition is the mooring of yachts. When a deadweight anchor is dropped, the seagrass meadows are heavily damaged. While the Mediterranean Sea attracts many yachts from 20m to 180m (65ft to 590ft) between May and September every year, the over frequentation of yachts in a concentrated marine environment can be particularly harmful to wildlife, like seagrass, if not properly…