The “Anchors Away!” Networking Event on mitigating the impact of anchoring on Posidonia beds, was successfully completed last week in Vila Kazouli, Athens, Greece (21-22 November, 2019).

The meeting, organized by the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research and the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy with the support of the European Commission, brought together scientists, managers, competent authorities and other key experts and stakeholders to discuss on problems and challenges rising from uncontrolled boat anchoring on Posidonia seagrass beds across the Natura 2000 Mediterranean Network of Protected Areas.

In the course of two long and vibrant days, our participants had the chance to exchange knowledge, experience and best practices, and engage in lively discussions on how to address uncontrolled anchoring over marine protected areas, and indeed over Posidonia oceanica meadows, an emblematic Mediterranean species and a priority habitat type for conservation according to the EU environmental legislation.

Thanks are due to the Hellenic Navy for hosting our Friday field trip to the Naval Base in Salamina isl, where Commander Tripontikas and his colleagues presented the Environmental Policy of the Hellenic Navy of National Defense and the Environmental Campaign of the Hellenic Fleet Command, and offered the group a rare look inside a submarine!

Reporting procedures, lessons learned and conclusions is now under preparation, and will be openly available for further consideration to all interested parties soon.