This week, the ICM is hosting the annual meeting of MERCES project (Restoration of the marine ecosystem in changing European seas), the first European project of the Horizon 2020 program dedicated to the restoration of marine ecosystems.
This week, the ICM is hosting the annual meeting of MERCES project (Restoration of the marine ecosystem in changing European seas), the first European project of the Horizon 2020 program dedicated to the restoration of marine ecosystems.
The degradation of ecosystems affects all marine habitats, from the coast to the deep sea. Developing global strategies, including restoration tools and protocols, communication campaigns, legal frameworks and encouraging the participation of the private sector is essential to promote restoration actions that guarantee the recovery of marine ecosystems and the conservation of biodiversity.
MERCES project involves 28 partners from 16 countries coordinated by the Polytechnic University of Marche (Italy). In the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Joaquim Garrabou coordinates the line of actions dedicated to coastal shallow hard bottoms, focused on the restoration of macroalgae forests and populations of corals and gorgonians; while Josep Maria Gili and Andrea Gori are involved in deep habitats restoration.
This meeting brings together more than 80 people from European research centres, and counts with the presence of experts in marine restoration, like Sergi Tudela, representative of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries at the Generalitat of Catalonia. Scientists will also discuss latests progress in working groups to share the results and activities carried out during the last year, as well as programming next actions to achieve the project main goals.
More information on the project website: www.merces-project.eu