The micro-reefs of Alcudiamar continue to boost marine biodiversity and carbon capture

Alcudiamar’s commitment to the renaturalisation of the port environment continues to yield very positive results. The second monitoring report carried out by Ocean Ecostructures confirms the favourable development of the micro-reefs installed in the marina using Life Boosting Units (LBUs), structures designed to promote the regeneration of marine biodiversity.

The data show a significant increase in the main environmental indicators compared with the previous monitoring exercise. The biomass generated in the micro-reefs has risen from 82.3 kg to 107 kg, representing an increase of nearly 30 per cent. Similarly, carbon sequestration capacity has risen from 34.7 kg to 45 kg of CO₂ sequestered, reinforcing the role of these structures as tools capable of contributing to environmental improvement in port areas.

The trend is also particularly positive in terms of biodiversity. During this second monitoring exercise, nine species of fish were identified, compared with the five recorded previously. Furthermore, the number of species of commercial interest has risen from four to seven, a figure that reflects the growing capacity of these habitats to attract and support marine fauna of ecological and fisheries significance.

Another of the most notable indicators is species richness compared with the control area. Whilst the previous report showed that micro-reefs had 56 per cent higher species richness, the current results put this increase at 106 per cent, far exceeding the values observed in the harbour area used as a natural reference for colonisation.

A new feature of this report is the inclusion, for the first time, of the Shannon Index, one of the most widely used indicators for measuring the biological diversity of an ecosystem. The results show that the marine communities developing on the LBUs are becoming increasingly diverse and balanced, a key factor in ensuring the ecological resilience and long-term stability of marine ecosystems. The report records a value of 1.48 H’, compared with 1.50 H’ in the control area, indicating that the micro-reefs are achieving levels of diversity very similar to those of already established natural communities.

Furthermore, the monitoring carried out has not detected any invasive species associated with the installed structures, a particularly important aspect in ensuring that the ecological benefits generated are achieved in a manner compatible with the conservation of local ecosystems.

These results cement Alcudiamar’s position as a leader in the renaturalisation of port environments and demonstrate that the integration of nature-based solutions can generate measurable benefits for both biodiversity and carbon sequestration. The developments observed confirm that the micro-reefs are creating more complex and functional habitats, encouraging the presence of new species and helping to improve the ecological health of the port.

The collaboration between Alcudiamar and Ocean Ecostructures thus continues to advance a more sustainable marina model, where nautical activity and environmental regeneration coexist to add value to the marine environment of Alcúdia Bay.