Assessing Atlantic Kelp Forest Restoration Efforts in Southern Europe

Alexandre F. S. Marques, Álvaro Sanchéz-Gallego, Rodrigo R. Correia, Isabel Sousa-Pinto, Silvia Chemello, Inês Louro, Marco F. L. Lemos and João N. Franco ()
Additional contact information
Alexandre F. S. Marques: MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET—Aquatic Research Network Associated Laboratory, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2520-630 Peniche, Portugal
Álvaro Sanchéz-Gallego: MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET—Aquatic Research Network Associated Laboratory, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2520-630 Peniche, Portugal
Rodrigo R. Correia: MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET—Aquatic Research Network Associated Laboratory, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2520-630 Peniche, Portugal
Isabel Sousa-Pinto: CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
Silvia Chemello: CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
Inês Louro: SeaForester Lda, 2765-253 Estoril, Portugal
Marco F. L. Lemos: MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET—Aquatic Research Network Associated Laboratory, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2520-630 Peniche, Portugal
João N. Franco: MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET—Aquatic Research Network Associated Laboratory, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2520-630 Peniche, Portugal

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-15

Abstract: Kelp forests are essential marine ecosystems increasingly compromised by human activities. Effective reforestation strategies are urgently needed, and the “green gravel” method is a viable tool already used in some European regions. This study aimed to assess the success of this method using the native Kelp species Laminaria ochroleuca on the Portuguese coastline. Cultures of green gravel were reared until the specimens reached a size of approximately 3 cm. The gravel was then deployed at selected sites in Peniche, Berlengas, and Cascais. Over an eight-month period, scientific scuba divers monitored the integration of Kelp, along with associated fish, invertebrate, and algae communities. Nutrient availability, temperature, water movement, substrate type, and Rugosity Index (RI) were also measured. The highest success rate was 12% in Consolação, with Elefante and Galos (Berlengas) reaching 7% and 4%, respectively. By the end of the monitoring period, Cascais had no remaining Kelp on green gravel. Present data suggest that higher success is dependent on less rugged and higher RI topography. Higher grazing pressure, rougher terrain, and unexpected sedimentation appear to be the main obstacles to deployment success. Solid knowledge (biologic and topographic) on the restoration site, starting restoration actions near already established Kelp forests, and significantly scaling up restoration efforts could substantially improve the success of the green gravel method in future reforestation campaigns.

Keywords: grazing; green gravel; Kelp; Laminaria ochroleuca; reforestation; substrate rugosity; temperature (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/21/9176/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/21/9176/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:21:p:9176-:d:1504377

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().