Ecological moorings to preserve exceptional marine diversity

This ZIEM already existed, but it was only set up during the summer period. “The choice of this 6-hectare zone, located between the Garonne nautical base and the port of Oursinières, is highly relevant because it is home to the underwater trail, which is popular with an ever-growing number of users. It is also an area of exceptional richness in terms of marine biodiversity,” explains Hervé Stassinos, the mayor of Le Pradet. In order to realize this project, the installation of ecological moorings was necessary to replace the existing moorings, which were not adapted to maintaining a marked zone year-round, particularly due to the violent and frequent storms during the winter period.

PRESERVED COASTLINE

“The objective of this operation is the protection of the marine environment and the reduction of anthropogenic pressures on underwater fauna and flora, in the long term and no longer intermittently and seasonally. During October, the company specialized in underwater works Porquerolles Marine Services proceeded with the installation of 14 ecological moorings and 14 buoys for the permanent ZIEM,” adds the mayor. This initiative is in addition to the long list of actions implemented by the Ville for many years regarding the preservation of its coastline. Exemplary in terms of the sustainable management of posidonia banquettes, it signed the commitment charters “Pour des plages de caractère en Méditerranée” and “Plage sans déchet plastique”. In 2015, it adhered to the Charte du Parc national de Port-Cros when it extended to the mainland. And, it reinforced the attractiveness of its underwater trail by installing 6 educational buoys between 2016 and 2021. Finally, for more than twenty years, in addition to its involvement in waste collection operations organized on beaches and at sea, the Ville has continued its fight against Caulerpa taxifolia in the bay of Garonne.

The cost of the operation amounts to €12,500 excl. VAT and financial aid of €3,545 has been requested from the Région Sud.

ECOLOGICAL MOORINGS

As a reminder, an ecological mooring is a fixed mooring positioned directly in the substrate and featuring an intermediate so-called “sub-surface” float, which prevents the chain connecting it to the buoy from rubbing against the seabed and degrading fragile habitats such as the posidonia seagrass meadow. Depending on the type of substrate, the type of ecological mooring differs.