One of the first passive deep-sea ecosystem restoration operations ever undertaken in the Mediterranean has begun in the Gulf of Naples: the removal of marine debris and abandoned fishing gear from coral and sponge habitats. The project was coordinated by the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn and carried out during the Demetra oceanographic campaign aboard the CNR vessel "Gaia Blu," part of the European Life Dream project, coordinated by CNR-Ismar of Bologna.
The sites: shallows between 200 and 300 meters and Dohrn Canyon
The activities involved two areas considered to be of high ecological value. The first is a rocky shoal between 200 and 300 meters deep, home to dense communities of black corals (Antipatharia). The second is the Dohrn Canyon, a deep ecosystem known for its unique benthic communities, with white corals, centuries-old oysters, and rare Mediterranean species.
According to the researchers, these three-dimensional structures function as true "submerged forests," providing shelter and habitat to numerous marine species, but are compromised by abandoned fishing gear: lines, ropes, and nets wrap around the colonies, causing abrasions, physiological damage, and a reduction in reproductive capacity, with cascading effects on the local balance.
How the removal happens: the ROV and the protocols
Operations are conducted using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), a tethered vehicle that allows for targeted interventions at great depths. After visually mapping the habitats, operators cut and remove fragments of nets, fishing lines, and ropes tangled in the corals, following rigorous protocols to minimize impact on benthic communities.
"The complexity is high: we work in conditions of poor visibility and on seabeds rich in delicate biogenic structures," the project explains. Each operation is preceded by video analysis and risk assessment; the gear is recovered or, if necessary, cut to neutralize its effects and prevent further damage.
"Millennia-Old Black Corals": Why Intervention Is Crucial
“Black corals are extraordinary organisms for their longevity: some specimens exceed
2.000 years in the Mediterranean. Freeing these ecosystems from abandoned fishing gear means giving breath to submerged forests that tell the story of our sea and safeguard the future of biodiversity,” says Frine Cardone, researcher at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn and head of the SZN unit of the Life Dream project.
Cardone also emphasizes the value of the Gulf of Naples as a study area: "It is a natural laboratory of exceptional biodiversity. Protecting these habitats means safeguarding essential ecosystem services and an invaluable ecological heritage."
Passive Restoration and Monitoring: The Life Dream Approach
The initiative is part of passive restoration efforts, which do not involve transplants or the introduction of organisms, but rather aim to remove human pressure to promote natural regeneration. This strategy is considered particularly suited to deep-seated environments, where many species grow slowly and are long-lived: eliminating disturbance becomes the foundation for any recovery.
"With Life Dream, we aim to protect and restore the Mediterranean's deep-sea ecosystems, particularly coral bioconstructions, which are essential for marine biodiversity and ocean functioning," explains Federica Foglini, senior technologist at CNR-Ismar and project coordinator. "Thanks to autonomous sensors and advanced restoration techniques, we monitor coral growth and environmental parameters, such as currents and temperature, to understand what promotes recovery," adds Giorgio Castellan, CNR-Ismar researcher and mission leader of the Demetra campaign. The stated goal is also to generate data useful for extending the conservation network to the deep sea.
Meeting with the local community in Naples on March 4th
The project also includes a public discussion with institutions and the local community. The meeting "Life Dream Meets the Local Area," organized by Simonetta Fraschetti (Federico II University), will take place on March 4, 2026, at the Federico II University of Naples Conference Center (Room B, Via Partenope 36). The event will share the results achieved so far and discuss potential conservation strategies for protecting deep-seated ecosystems in Campania with regional institutions.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
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