Catalonia is facing fresh pressure to protect Posidonia oceanica and other marine seagrasses after Royal Decree 191/2026 was introduced to strengthen safeguards along the coast. The measure has drawn concern from navigators in Cadaqués and other coastal areas, where anchoring remains a key issue.
According to activist and navigator Jordi Cruz Plaja, from Palafrugell, Posidonia meadows are important for climate action, biodiversity and food security. He says the seagrass beds have been protected for decades through European directives, international conventions and state and regional rules, but they have still declined over time.
Some of the pressures on these habitats are hard to tackle quickly, including warmer Mediterranean waters, plastic and chemical pollution, and invasive species such as Asian algae and rabbitfish. Others, Cruz Plaja argues, can be addressed now, especially uncontrolled anchoring, which damages the seabed and seagrass meadows.
He says stronger protection needs more public information, better surveillance, precise and mandatory mapping, a tougher sanctions regime and a wider network of ecological buoys. For readers following wider environmental coverage, see our news page.
Supporters of the measure also point to scientific studies that they say document the impact of free anchoring on Posidonia, including in Cap de Creus. They argue that creating natural parks, marine reserves and ecological buoy fields helps conserve and recover marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
The article also links the issue to the European Nature Restoration Law and the international 30x30 commitment, which aims to effectively protect at least 30% of marine ecosystems by 2030, with 10% under strict protection. It notes that only 0.01% is currently under strict protection. For the official legal text, see the Boletín Oficial del Estado and the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition.
World Oceans Day, marked on 8 June, is cited as a reminder that protecting Posidonia is not only an environmental issue, but also a question of Catalonia’s economy, sea health and future generations.