Meadows of Neptune: Part I

Ever since we were little and spent childhood summers on the Mediterranean, we wove stories about the underwater meadows where seahorses grazed. We told ourselves these were the gardens of mermaids and seagods, a playground for fish and their friends. The lawns of Neptune captured our imagination and continue to do so today. Exploring the seabed, rainbow wrasse and scorpionfish can be spotted among the soft green blades, descendants of the historic animals that thrived in these waters when humans began to adorn themselves with shells (thanks Wikipedia[1]). An endemic Mediterranean seagrass, the most remarkable fact about the Posidonia meadows is that they’re 100,000 years old.

This ancient plant is the source of the beauty and transparency of the waters of the Pitiusan Sea around Ibiza and Formentera, its conservation not only essential for the health of the local marine ecosystem, but tourism too. In 1999, UNESCO included the category ‘Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture’ in its World Heritage collection which triggered a wave of organisations turning their attention to the protection of Posidonia. Incredibly effective at filtering water and producing oxygen, the Mediterranean Advanced Research Institute (IMEDEA) states that this ‘super plant’ produces up to 20 litres of oxygen per square metre every single day (the same as one hectare of the Amazon rainforest). Given that these meadows cover up to 50,000 km2 of the coast, it is no wonder they’re dubbed the “Lungs of the Mediterranean”.

The Posidonia meadows are sanctuaries for over 1,000 species during breeding and a year-round refuge and food source for many others. From seahorses, octopus and starfish to coralline algae and molluscs that grow between the seagrass shoots, these ocean gardens burst with life. Much like the coral reefs of tropical seas, their loss would be a catastrophe for the food chain, and they must be taken care of. We need to avoid anchoring on them. Instead, we can moor further away and swim up close to immerse ourselves in their underwater spectacle. There are mooring maps and tools ready available online so let’s spread the word among the yachting community and join together in ensuring we are doing our part in preserving this historic aquatic world. Please start by sharing this article to anyone you know that summers in the Mediterranean or plans to holiday on these turquoise waters.

Next time, we will detail exactly what actions we can all take to significantly reduce our impact on the Posidonia meadows, the gardens of the Mediterranean, that should be explored, admired and respected, not destroyed. We must safeguard the beautiful organism that has carpeted the seabed for millennia and pave the way for the next generation of children to dive in and begin their adventures on mermaid lawns.

In the meantime, do get in touch with us should you want to access more information or join us on a Posidonia safari off the coast of Formentera. Our crew know where to anchor so as to not harm the seagrass and will show you the best spots to snorkel.

[1] ~120,000 years ago: use of marine shells for personal decoration by humans, including Neandertals. (Source: Wikipedia)