Seagrass meadow restoration in Corsica, France

Calvi Bay, Corsica
Posidonia oceanica is the Mediterranean's most valuable seagrass. Its meadows store carbon for centuries, protect coastlines, and shelter young fish. It also grows extremely slowly, so a meadow that is destroyed can take decades or longer to recover on its own. In Calvi Bay, on Corsica's north-west coast, decades of boat anchoring reduced a 23-hectare meadow to scattered patches. In 2026, the site became a full no-anchoring zone, finally making active restoration worthwhile. The project is led by STARESO, an independent marine research statio...Read more
3
square meters of seagrass

Location

Facts & figures

Restoration scope

Restoration scope

In 2026, around 130 m² was planted, covering roughly 1,000-1,500 m² of seabed set to recover. The goal is to restore 10,000 m² by planting around 1,500 patches of 1 m² within 5 to 10 years and reconnect the restored meadow with the natural one in the east of the bay.

Project outcomes

Project outcomes

  • Recovery of a priority Mediterranean habitat

  • Shelter and nursery grounds for fish and invertebrates

  • An estimated long-term potential of about 1.7 kg CO₂ per year for each 1 m² planted (10 m² of seabed), once the meadow is fully established. Carbon storage will be measured on site from 2027.

  • Scientific data to guide future seagrass restoration

Partners