Summer School on Ocean Literacy and Ecosystem Regeneration

The Tremiti Islands Marine Protected Area (MPA) has been mentioned in the literature as an excellent open-air laboratory for the study of marine habitats.

The Summer School on Ecosystem Restoration and Ocean Literacy aims to provide theoretical and practical knowledge for the study and monitoring of coastal marine habitats and their importance for management purposes within the Mediterranean Sea, having the Tremiti Islands Marine Protected Area as case study, as well as to provide basic techniques for the restoration of priority habitats such as Posidonia oceanica seagrass beds found in the Marine Protected Area.

Through a preponderance of hands-on activities, the participant will acquire manual skills and methodologies for monitoring and restoring marine seagrass (P. oceanica), studying invertebrate-structured marine habitats and monitoring associated fauna.

The September 2025 Summer School is part of the Save the Wave project, an initiative of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission in partnership with E.ON and the University of Bari Aldo Moro, as part of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).

The Summer School supports the following learning outcomes:

• How to effectively work on conservation, restoration and monitoring of seagrass meadows and other coastal ecosystems;

• How to develop effective science communication and storytelling content;

• Engaging and interacting with local institutions and stakeholders;

• Becoming familiar with the objectives and actions of the UN Ocean Decade;

• Acquisition of manual skills in field data collection operations;

• Training in Posidonia oceanica restoration and replanting techniques;

• Ability to recognize the main Mediterranean benthic biocoenoses, with focus on P. oceanica meadows;

• Critical skills on the health status of marine habitats, with a focus on P. oceanica seagrass beds;

• Ability to communicate the characteristics and value of Mediterranean habitats-with a focus on P. oceanica seagrass beds-to a non-expert audience.