MAREST promotes a scientific, collaborative, and cross-border response to protect two key marine resources of the Iberian Atlantic coast: kelp forests and sea urchin populations. The project combines ecological restoration, scientific monitoring, regenerative aquaculture, socio-ecological analysis, and cooperation between Spain and Portugal to generate conservation and sustainable management strategies.
Kelp forests are key habitats for other marine species and constitute essential ecological components of the Atlantic coast. For its part, the sea urchin has significant commercial value, making it especially relevant to balance its harvesting with long-term conservation.
In both cases, threats have intensified in recent years: climate change compromises the persistence of kelp forests and overfishing increases the risk to urchin populations. This situation makes it necessary to move towards joint strategies for restoration, management, and future sustainability.
MAREST develops joint strategies for the sustainability of key marine resources in the cooperation area between Spain and Portugal. To this end, it coordinates monitoring, ecological restoration, regenerative aquaculture, socio-ecological analysis, strategic design, and visibility and communication actions.
