WORDS FROM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY
Welcome to the eighth edition of the OCEAN CITIZEN newsletter!
By Louise Allock
This month, we are proud to present a Manifesto for Marine Animal Forests. Our manifesto sets out why Marine Animal Forests are so important and why scientists are so concerned about them.
In the current biodiversity crisis, it is paramount to conserve hotspots of biodiversity and areas providing enhanced ecosystem services such as Marine Animal Forests. These areas play an enhanced role in sustaining life on our planet.
We outline the historical and ongoing destruction and degradation of Marine Animal Forests and we offer solutions to policy makers who want to protect and restore Marine Animal Forests.
Our Manifesto is a collaborative effort, combining the knowledge and expertise of partners from 28 countries across the MAF-World COST Action. University of Galway researchers have been studying Marine Animal Forests in deep waters off Ireland for a number of years and, in the OCEAN CITIZEN project, we have been studying the deeper sites off Tenerife where OCEAN CITIZEN plans active restoration of Marine Animal Forest.
SHARED EFFORTS FOR A SUTAINABLE FUTURE: OCEAN CITIZEN AND REMEDIALIFE PROJECTS
Collaboration lies at the heart of OCEAN CITIZEN’s approach to marine restoration. Building on the REMEDIALIFE project in Taranto, Italy, the consortium is adapting Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) techniques to Tenerife, combining fish, macroalgae, and invertebrates to enhance both ecosystem health and sustainable food production. This cross-regional exchange of knowledge highlights how shared experience and innovative practices can accelerate ecological restoration while fostering economic and scientific benefits.
REBUILDING THE ARTIC SEAFLOOF: ELNIDA-RIF® REEFS IN THE PORSANGERFJORD - NORWAY
In the heart of Norway’s Arctic Porsangerfjord, 30 Elnida-rif® reefs were recently deployed to restore juvenile Atlantic cod habitats and promote kelp forest growth. These custom-designed structures enhance biodiversity, ecosystem connectivity, and carbon capture, creating a living laboratory for real-time ecological research. By combining innovative design, science, and international collaboration, the project demonstrates how targeted interventions can rebuild resilient and vibrant Arctic marine ecosystems.
RESTORING TENERIFE’S HIDDEN CORAL FORESTS
The black coral Antipathella wollastoni, found in the mesophotic zones of Macaronesia, forms intricate underwater forests that provide shelter for fish, crustaceans, and epibionts, thereby enhancing local biodiversity. Highly vulnerable to fishing impacts, sedimentation, and environmental change, its slow growth renders natural recovery challenging, making conservation imperative. OCEAN CITIZEN has launched a pilot restoration project in Punta Blanca to safeguard and restore these critical mesophotic habitats.
ADVANCING MARINE ANIMAL FORESTS RESTORATION THROUGH TRANSATLANTIC COLLABORATION
For OCEAN CITIZEN, Ocean Literacy is more than education it is a catalyst for connecting science, society, and international collaboration. In September, project partners participated in the 8th Austral Spring School in Fortaleza, Brazil, exchanging knowledge on Marine Animal Forests, restoration practices, and the role of AI in taxonomy. The event highlighted the importance of translating scientific understanding into action, fostering global collaboration, and inspiring citizens to engage in marine conservation.
THREE-PART WEBINAR MINISERIES: UNDERSTANDING BLUE FORESTS
Marine Forest Across The World
Thursday November 13th 2025 at 16:00 CE
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Sergio ROSSI- Project Coordinator
Beneath the ocean’s surface thrive dynamic marine forests. From seagrass meadows to algal canopies and coral gardens, this sessions introduces the incredible diversity of marine forests and the life they sustain.
Blue Carbon and Ecosystem Resilience
Thursday November 27th 2025 at 11:00 CE
Speakers: Dr. Enrique ISLA & Juan USÓ – Researchers at ICM-CSIC
Marine ecosystems play a vital role in capturing carbon and sustaining ocean productivity.
Connectivity Ocean’s Hidden Highway
Tuesday December 9th 2025 at 16:00 CE
Speakers: Prof. Dr Federica COSTANTINI- Università di Bologna (CoNISMa)
Beneath the surface, the ocean functions as a single, connectes system where species, energy, and nutrients move across vast distances.
