Results

TEAMFORADRIS will produce the following outputs, all designed to contribute to addressing the challenge of mussel mortality in the Adriatic-Ionian sea:

– a digital platform (PaaS), App and dashboard with environmental indicators, for more sustainable mussel farming

– a protocol on Pilot Tests, covering the use of digital devices, bio promoters, ecological blue corridors and methodology

– a set of environmental and sustainable production indicators for labelling

– a Final Report of Good Practices and innovative solutions for reducing mussel mortality rates and promoting a more sustainable and healthy seafood production.

INITIAL FINDINGS – PROJECT YEAR 1

In Year 1 TEAMFORADRIS partners have been investigating some of the causes of mussel mortality and decreasing seagrass populations in the Adriatic-Ionian sea.

You can download a summary of our findings here.

We ran a survey in all participating countries, seeking to understand perceptions among mussel farmers, stakeholders and the public. Results are summarised below.

Posidonia oceanica

Posidonia oceanica, a endemic seagrass species of the Mediterranean Sea, forms extensive underwater meadows that are a foundation of coastal marine ecosystems. These meadows provide critical ecosystem services, including sediment stabilisation, water quality maintenance, carbon sequestration, and nursery habitats for numerous marine species. However, globally, seagrass meadows are in decline, and P. oceanica is particularly vulnerable due to its slow growth and high sensitivity to environmental change. Understanding the anthropogenic pressures driving this decline is paramount for effective conservation. TEAMFORADRIS examines stakeholder perceptions of threats to P. oceanica, revealing strong correlations between observed meadow degradation and the activities of anchoring/mooring, coastal development, pollution, and fishing activities, while notably finding a weaker perceived link with Tourism.

Mytilus galloprovincialis

The strong correlations between observed mortality and the selected drivers reveal that stakeholders perceive mussel decline as a multi-causal issue. The perceived drivers span from acute, localised pollution (Plastic nets, Discharges) to pervasive, global climatic pressures (Ocean acidification, Heat waves). This collective perception aligns with the scientific consensus that cumulative stressors are a primary threat to marine ecosystems. The prominence of climate-related factors indicates public awareness of its broad impacts. These findings underscore the necessity for integrated management policies that address both pollution reduction and climate adaptation to mitigate future mussel mortality events.

The lack of a clear perceived correlation between mussel mortality and eutrophication, harmful algae blooms, invasive species, and predators likely reflects the complex scenario of marine mortality events, rather than their actual ecological insignificance. It highlights a critical challenge in environmental awareness addressing “invisible” or chronic threats that are scientifically valid but less tangible to direct observation.