ICOMIA, Mediterranean Posidonia Network and 11th Hour Racing Partner to Deliver Enhanced Posidonia Mapping for Responsible Boating 

High-resolution mapping of sensitive and restricted Posidonia areas will be made available through chart plotters and boating apps, helping boaters navigate responsibly and protect vital Mediterranean seagrass habitats.

11th Hour Racing, Mediterranean Posidonia Network (MPN) and ICOMIA announced today their support for Posidonia seagrass preservation and education for the leisure marine industry and recreational boaters in the Mediterranean.

Targeted Outreach, Industry Guidance & Best Practice

With 11th Hour Racing’s support, ICOMIA will develop targeted outreach programmes, industry guidance, and best practice frameworks, while supporting existing regional efforts led by the Mediterranean Posidonia Network. The programme will enhance collaboration between policymakers, industry stakeholders, and conservation organisations and will present the results at local and international events and channels.

This initiative builds on 11th Hour Racing’s broader work in the Mediterranean, supporting organizations working to strengthen marine protected areas, expand ocean education, and protect vital marine ecosystems.

A Valuable & Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem

Posidonia oceanica meadows are among the most valuable and vulnerable marine ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea. This important marine plant species is found in the Mediterranean basin with a wide coverage on sandy bottoms and rocks estimated to be 12,200 km2. The ecosystem services and environmental benefits provided by Posidonia oceanica include: significant natural carbon sinks, water quality indicators, nurseries and safe-havens for many species, while also producing oxygen, protecting shores from erosion and stabilizing sediments.

However, these slow-growing habitats (leaves growing only 1-3 cm/year) are increasingly threatened by human activities such as recreational anchoring, dredging, water pollution and the development of coastal infrastructure, while the increasing sea temperature also bears significant pressures on the resilience and health of the plant. It is estimated that a one-third (≈30–35%) loss of the Posidonia meadows in the Mediterranean happened in the past decades, while many surviving meadows have become much sparser, with decreased shoot density meaning they are often less healthy and less productive.

Anchoring – One of the Biggest Pressures Posidonia Faces

As the Mediterranean is a tourist hotspot, anchoring is still one of the biggest pressures that the Posidonia meadows are facing. In these heavily trafficked boating coastal regions in the Mediterranean, boat owners usually lack information about the importance of the species while there is also a need for high-resolution, good quality, harmonized cartography of the meadows in nautical charts and plotters.

Therefore, a key component of the initiative will be filling this information gap by providing higher resolution mapping of sensitive and restricted Posidonia areas and making this information available for chart plotters and apps used by boaters.

This work will provide confident, responsible anchoring practices across the region, helping boaters to avoid damage to fragile seagrass habitats while enabling safe and enjoyable access to Mediterranean waters.

Joe Lynch, ICOMIA CEO, Comments

Joe Lynch, CEO of ICOMIA, said, “Posidonia seagrass meadows are among the Mediterranean’s most valuable and vulnerable ecosystems. At ICOMIA, we recognise the responsibility of the global recreational marine industry to play its part in the protection. This collaboration with 11th Hour Racing and MPN represents an important step forward in aligning industry action with environmental stewardship, while also providing practical tools such as improved mapping to enable responsible navigation and anchoring in sensitive areas.”

“Protecting Posidonia seagrass isn’t something any one organization can do alone,” said Jeremy Pochman, CEO and co-founder of 11th Hour Racing. “By working with ICOMIA and supporting the Mediterranean Posidonia Network, we’re bringing together conservation expertise and the recreational marine industry to make it easier for boaters to protect these vital ecosystems. When people have the right information and the right tools, they can make more responsible decisions on the water.”

Marcial Bardolet, Co-founder of the Mediterranean Posidonia Network (MPN), Comments

Marcial Bardolet, Co-founder of the Mediterranean Posidonia Network and Head of the Surveillance Service from the Balearic Government, highlights, “This marks a milestone in showing what’s possible when cartography, technology and genuine awareness come together. Protecting Posidonia meadows is a shared responsibility, uniting conservation, science and the nautical industry around a common goal: safeguarding this vital underwater forest so future generations can continue to enjoy the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea.”

The partnership underscores ICOMIA’s commitment to supporting its members and the wider industry in addressing key environmental challenges through collaboration, innovation and education.

About 11th Hour Racing

Inspired by the dynamics of sailboat racing and the urgency for climate action, 11th Hour Racing is committed to the health and resilience of ocean systems. Supporting innovative, sustainable solutions in the maritime industry and beyond through sport, storytelling and grantmaking, 11th Hour Racing works to build healthy planetary systems and strong communities. Under the 11th Hour Racing umbrella, activities are provided through 11th Hour Racing, Inc., which serves as the impact entity and provides programmatic direction to its philanthropic partners, including 11th Hour Racing Charitable, LLC, which engages in charitable work, and 11th Hour Racing Action, LLC, which engages in social welfare programs and advocacy.

Learn more at 11thhourracing.org 

About MPN

The Mediterranean Posidonia Network (MPN) is a regional and international collaborative initiative that brings together key stakeholders and organizations to advance the protection and conservation of Posidonia oceanica across the Mediterranean. Through scientific collaboration, the development of best-practice guidance, capacity building, and awareness-raising, the Network promotes knowledge exchange and supports coordinated action to safeguard this vital and fragile marine ecosystem for future generations.

Find out more at medposidonianetwork.com

For further information, please contact:

ICOMIA: Ben Grigg, Programme Director, ben@icomia.com
MPN: Marcial Bardolet, MPN Co-Founder, marcialbardolet@gmail.com
11th Hour Racing: Alessandra Ghezzi, VP Communications and Marketing, aghezzi@11thhourracing.org