Large-scale Posidonia oceanica restoration in a Site of National Interest using an innovative bio-plastic transplant system

Along the Italian coasts there are many areas affected by industrial activities defined as "Sites of National Interest" (SNI), which require urgent and effective remediation and restoration actions. In the framework of TETIDE project (PON01_03112 www.progettotetide.it)a restoration program was developed in SNI Priolo(Sicily) in response to a dramatic decline and regression of Posidonia oceanicameadow, caused byseveral years of petrochemical industries dumping. In particular, a large scale P. oceanicarestoration plan was carried out in four steps: (1) habitat selection, by calculation of the Preliminary Transplant Suitability Index (PTSI); (2) field assessments and test-transplanting, to eva…