CONSERVATION OF
CAMBALHÃO BAY SEAGRASS MEADOW
©Photos: SeaTrees and Protect.Blue.
Safeguard a naturally emerging seagrass meadow in Cambalhão Bay,
“seeded” by nature’s hand.
BEGINNING: MARCH 2023
END: ONGOING
The project aims to safeguard the young seagrass meadow at Cambalhão Bay at the entrance of the Sado estuary. This meadow was “seeded” by nature’s hand less than five years ago.
Over the first five months of this project, we have:
1) Created baseline scientific information regarding seagrass meadow area estimation, mapping, species composition and biodiversity.
2) Capacitated local maritime tourist enterprises (MTs) as “Seagrass Guardians” of the Cambalhão meadow, aiming to provide information and trigger their role in the protection of the meadow.
3) Promoted education through one-to-one awareness sessions among local recreational boat owners about the detrimental effects of anchoring and navigation practices on the meadow. This campaign was conducted in partnership with ActivoBank.
4) Developed and implemented a systematic methodology to monitor the meadow over the next two years (2023 and 2024).
FUNDING:
An Ocean Alive’s initiative in partnership with SeaTrees, by Sustainable Surf .
Biodiversity
Photos ©Ocean Alive.
1. European eel (Anguilla anguilla). 2.Anemone (Anemonia viridis). 3. Greater pipefish (Syngnathus acus). 4. Depilatory sea-hare (Aplysia punctata).
5. Juvenile fish (Symphodus spp.). 6. Brown algae (Dictyota dichotoma). 7. Tubeworm (Sabela pavonina). 8. Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris).
9. Tubeworm (Myxicola infundibulum).
Project Activities
Photos 1, 2, 3 and 4 ©SeaTrees and Protect.Blue, remaining pictures ©Ocean Alive.
Project Results
Cambalhão seagrass meadow map (represented by the blue and pink polygons). ©Ocean Alive
Framework of Sustainable Development Goals
How? Training Maritime-tourism companies (MTs) to become Seagrass Guardians, promoting an active role in the conservation of the Cambalhão Bay seagrass meadow.
How? Creating employment opportunities for fisherwomen from
the local community,
as awareness agents.
How? Raising community awareness concerning the preservation and protection of the Cambalhão Bay seagrass meadow.
This seagrass meadow serves as an example of a marine ecosystem that acts as a natural carbon sink and is crucial for maintaining biodiversity.
How? Promoting good navigation practices to safeguard and protect the Cambalhão Bay seagrass meadow.