When Scientists and Industry Technologies Mitigate Habitat Loss: The First Bioconstruction Relocation in the Mediterranean Sea

The need for habitat recovery in coastal areas, especially those subjected to intensive exploitation, has increased because of significant historical loss and alteration habitats and, therefore, adverse ecological impacts. present study defines a stepwise approach mitigate deep environments, describing the planning, intervention, monitoring phases following Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) laying along Apulian coast (Adriatic Sea, Italy). Preliminary field activities encompassed morpho-bathymetric data (MBES SSS), SCUBA ROV observations accurately map characterize mesophotic reefs built by invertebrates found area. pipeline route interfered with 30 outcrops between 50 80 m depth, mostly colonized 15 taxa/morphological groups. A functional/conservative was adopted recognize groups on which focus removal relocation based their abundance, conservation status, functional traits. Saturation divers teams, pilot technicians, researchers collaborated minimize physical impact organisms due installation. They relocated total 899 living portions ( nuclei ) from top pipeline. activities, carried out after fourteen months since revealed high mean survival rate (88.1%) slight variations structure assemblages. This represents paradigmatic case involvement support private oil gas sector Mediterranean stresses integrated management involving different stakeholders effects exploitation marine resources through ante operam assessment active restoration actions.