Experts in environmental science, marine biodiversity, and sustainability unveiled today in Puerto Banús the findings of a groundbreaking report on ecological conditions and marine biodiversity across ten Mediterranean ports.

Developed under the auspices of Monaco’s Port Hercule and Puerto Banús, this study was conducted by the scientific team at Underwater Gardens International, with the cooperation of academic institutions and conservation specialists.

This meeting gathered researchers, port managers, and nautical sector representatives to present the report’s findings and outline actions currently underway to regenerate biodiversity and mitigate environmental impacts in strategically vital port environments. The analysis examined biodiversity and environmental quality in Puerto Banús and Marina Ibiza in Spain; Port Hercule in Monaco; IGY Vieux-Port de Cannes and Port de Saint-Tropez in France; ACI Marina Split, Croatia; Marina Grande di Capri, Porto Cervo, and Marina di Portofino in Italy; and Limassol Marina in Cyprus.

These ports were selected based on their economic, tourism, and environmental relevance, and the necessity of balancing port activities with ecological protection. They were identified as models in one or more environmental aspects, aiming to encourage other Mediterranean ports towards sustainability and biodiversity protection. The report offers a comprehensive analysis of marine biodiversity across these 10 ports and proposes concrete conservation and regeneration solutions, providing vital data for environmental management and decision-making in the region.

Key contributions include a detailed map of biodiversity and priority habitats in each port studied, assessments of endangered species, and vulnerable ecosystems. The impact of port activities on the marine environment has been analyzed, with recommendations for impact mitigation and ecological regeneration enhancement. Strategies align with the 2030 Agenda and European directives on nature restoration, along with a collaborative governance model integrating science, ports, and institutions.

Under the report’s framework, Puerto Banús is taking a leading role, advancing specific initiatives for marine biodiversity protection and restoration of degraded ecosystems. Notable among these efforts is the conservation of the Patella ferruginea, an endemic mollusk in the Mediterranean classified as an endangered species and considered an essential bioindicator of the marine ecosystem’s environmental health. Its recovery is essential for maintaining ecological equilibrium in intertidal zones, supporting biological diversity in coastal habitats, and enhancing the ecosystem’s resilience against climate change and human pressures.

Through collaboration with the University of Seville, Puerto Banús has implemented pioneering protection and regeneration measures, including the installation of Life Boosting Units to create new habitats and scientific monitoring programs to track biodiversity evolution. The report does not stop at diagnosis; it has activated concrete solutions already in progress, such as the restoration of marine habitats in strategically central port areas, community environmental education programs, and the establishment of a network of regenerative Mediterranean ports committed to biodiversity and sustainability.