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Towards Sustainable Management of Beach-Cast Seagrass in Mediterranean Coastal Areas

Author

Listed:
  • Loredana Manfra

    (Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, Italy
    Department of Marine Biotechnology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Naples, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Stefania Chiesa

    (Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Simone Simeone

    (Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, National Research Council (CNR-IAS), 09170 Oristano, Italy)

  • Patrizia Borrello

    (Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, Italy)

  • Raffaella Piermarini

    (Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, Italy)

  • Chara Agaoglou

    (Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN), 105 57 Athens, Greece)

  • Monia Elbour

    (Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (INSTM), Salammbô, Tunis 2025, Tunisia)

  • Noureddine Zaaboub

    (Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (INSTM), Salammbô, Tunis 2025, Tunisia)

  • Dimitris Vandarakis

    (Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 190 13 Anavyssos, Greece)

  • Ioannis Kourliaftis

    (Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 190 13 Anavyssos, Greece)

  • Alfonso Scarpato

    (Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, Italy)

  • Alice Rotini

    (Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Marine environmental conservation and tourist exploitation are often in conflict, particularly where anthropogenic pressure is greatest, such as along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. A case in point is the accumulation of beach-cast seagrass, a typical feature of the Mediterranean Sea that is nowadays perceived as an “obstacle” to tourist activities and thus treated and removed as waste, leading to environmental impacts. In this paper, we analyzed the legislative context at the Mediterranean basin level and the contribution of twenty virtuous research projects related to the topic. In our opinion, the main benefits for the beach–dune ecosystem would be generated by the use of seagrass banquettes directly within the beach system (temporary displacement, creating beach walkways, dune consolidation), while their uses outside the beach system (agricultural and farm solutions—compost and bedding) should be considered as alternative solutions for a circular economy, in case of consistent biomass deposits along the shores. In this perspective, we support the “Ecological Beach” model which integrates most of the science-derived solutions addressed in this study. This model provides good practices that can be usefully spread and shared along Mediterranean coasts: to achieve this result, it is necessary to create a regional or Mediterranean network involving local communities and stakeholders.

Suggested Citation

  • Loredana Manfra & Stefania Chiesa & Simone Simeone & Patrizia Borrello & Raffaella Piermarini & Chara Agaoglou & Monia Elbour & Noureddine Zaaboub & Dimitris Vandarakis & Ioannis Kourliaftis & Alfonso, 2024. "Towards Sustainable Management of Beach-Cast Seagrass in Mediterranean Coastal Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-13, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:2:p:756-:d:1319863
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