Members of the University of Barcelona team preparing the buoys of the instrumented mooring line. Photo credit: Andrea Gori.
From 17 to 21 November 2025, the OCEAN CITIZEN team at the University of Barcelona carried out the third research campaign in Torredembarra, one of the project’s five pilot sites. This campaign was conducted in close collaboration with the Natural Art Reef Association (NAR), a local environmental organization, and the project partner UBICA, specialized in underwater biological cartography and photogrammetry.
As part of our year-round program, we conducted our fall monitoring to understand how environmental conditions influence gorgonian survival, growth and the associated community. This work included maintaining the mooring, completing the last monthly CTD transects of the year, and using a particle camera to study the size, shape, and origin of particles that constitute potential food sources for gorgonians. We also deployed light traps both inside and outside the gorgonian forests to investigate the surrounding plankton community.
Moreover, we monitored the transplanted gorgonian groups and surrounding community, as well as gorgonian recruits in the restoration site. This underwater work was carried out by experienced divers from the University of Barcelona and NAR team. The UBICA team also took pictures of the restored gorgonians for underwater photogrammetry and create detailed 3D models of the community.
Future campaigns will continue the environmental and ecological monitoring on this study site.
A member of the scuba diving team measuring the dimension of a restored gorgonian. Photo credit: Irene Gonzalo.
A member of the scuba diving team measuring the dimension of a restored gorgonian. Photo credit: Irene Gonzalo.
A member of the scuba diving team measuring the dimension of a restored gorgonian. Photo credit: Irene Gonzalo.
