Restoring a World Heritage seascape: MSC Foundation, Asociación Vellmari and Mission Blue take stock of efforts to revive Mediterranean seagrass meadows

First year of successful planting of 15,500 seagrass shoots covers 600m² in a marine protected natural park and UNESCO World Heritage site

Focus Area: Marine Conservation

On the International Day for Biological Diversity, the MSC Foundation, Asociación Vellmari and Mission Blue are calling attention to the urgent need to restore Mediterranean seagrass meadows—ecosystems vital to ocean health, biodiversity, and climate stability—within the Ses Salines d’Eivissa i Formentera Natural Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Balearic Islands and the Balearic Islands Hope Spot of Mission Blue.

On 13 May 2025, representatives of the MSC Foundation visited this ecologically rich marine park to witness the progress of The Great Meadow, a large-scale Posidonia Oceanica reforestation project led by Asociación Vellmari, founded by marine biologist, award-winning underwater photographer and National Geographic Explorer Manu San Félix.

The MSC Foundation’s support is helping to expand the project’s scientific and operational capacity, with the goal of restoring 45,000 seagrass plants across 2.5 hectares over a three-year period. By the end of its first year, the initiative has already delivered visible ecological result: 15,500 seagrass shoots have been successfully transplanted across 600 square meters and fieldwork has allowed for the testing and refinement of science-based, innovative methods.

“We greatly appreciate the support of the MSC Foundation, which has roots in the Mediterranean. I am convinced that this is a key partnership for reaching out to thousands of people and spreading the message of the urgent need to restore our beloved sea. We will succeed in protecting it if we all work together," said Manu San Felix, Founder of Asociación Vellmari.

This initiative is part of the MSC Foundation’s broader efforts to promote marine conservation, education, and ocean literacy in the Mediterranean and contribute to environmental stewardship across other regions, including The Bahamas where it serves as a Mission Blue Hope Spot Champion.

“Seagrass meadows are silent heroes of the ocean—complex, fragile, and vital,” said Marina Anselme, Secretary General of the MSC Foundation. “We are proud to be engaging with Manu San Félix, whose decades of dedication to the Posidonia meadows of Formentera and Ibiza continue to inspire. Together with Mission Blue, we are supporting science-based restoration, education, and public engagement—three interconnected pillars that are essential to helping preserve and restore one of the Mediterranean’s most vital marine ecosystems.”