Gibraltar’s seagrass restoration efforts were highlighted at an international conference in Barcelona, where the Nautilus Project presented the work of the Gibraltar Seagrass Restoration Project. The project has also begun restoring a second seagrass species locally and has entered into a new research collaboration with the University of Malta.

A statement from the Nautilus Project follows below:

Gibraltar represented at Seagrass Conference in Barcelona

A Posidonia oceanica restoration conference was hosted by SUNBIO in the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya campus in Barcelona. It brought together experts from all over the world to discuss the best techniques, strategies and methodologies for restoring this important Mediterranean species which is under threat.

Marine biologist, Lewis Stagnetto from The Nautilus Project, was invited to speak at the event, highlighting the vital environmental work being carried out here in Gibraltar. The Gibraltar Seagrass Restoration Project (GSRP) powered by Peninsula 360, generated great interest amongst the scientists and the team is looking forward to future collaborations.

Restoration of a second Seagrass species begins on the Rock

The Gibraltar Seagrass Restoration Project (GSRP) powered by Peninsula, has begun work on germinating  Zostera marina seagrass seeds that have arrived from the UK. Zostera marina was found around the Gibraltar coast up until around 2008. GSRP are now restoring both species of Seagrasses which were locally endemic.

The work being done by the GSRP has garnered vast interest internationally with our third intern arriving from Malaysia this week. 

The Nautilus Project and University of Malta collaborate of Seagrass restoration research

The Gibraltar Seagrass Restoration Project (GSRP), powered by Peninsula, have signed a historic agreement with the University of Malta where they will share knowledge and research on seagrass restoration. This collaboration has created the opportunity for a PhD position which will see research being conducted in Gibraltar and Malta giving way to ground-breaking scientific publications.

https://www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/noticesopportunities/2026/phdscholarshipinoceanographicstudiescallforapplications.html