How can we restore the Mediterranean’s underwater forests and strengthen the resilience of marine ecosystems in the face of growing environmental pressures?
The ARTEMIS documentary series takes viewers on a journey across the Mediterranean, showcasing how science, innovation, policy and local communities can work together to protect and restore some of the region’s most valuable marine habitats: seagrass meadows.
From the crystal-clear waters of Crete and Menorca to the protected marine areas of Sardinia and the coasts of the Northern Adriatic, the series follows the people and places at the heart of the ARTEMIS project. Across the four pilot sites, the project partners and The Green Tank, together with researchers, public authorities, environmental organizations and local stakeholders, join forces to test innovative restoration methods, monitor the state of underwater ecosystems and develop solutions that can support nature restoration on a broader scale.
Seagrass meadows, such as those formed by Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa, are among the Mediterranean’s most important ecosystems. They provide habitat for countless marine species, improve water quality, stabilize coastal sediments and store significant amounts of carbon, contributing to climate change mitigation. Yet these ecosystems are increasingly threatened by human activities, including coastal development, pollution, fish farming, habitat fragmentation and unsustainable anchoring practices.
Through real-life stories and on-the-ground restoration efforts, the documentary series highlights both the challenges and opportunities of marine ecosystem restoration. Beyond ecological recovery, it explores how restoration can support biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, sustainable coastal livelihoods and stronger connections between people and the marine environment.
Episode 1: Crete – From Impact to Restoration
The first episode takes us to Atzikiari Bay in Crete, where a Posidonia oceanica meadow has suffered severe degradation following decades of pressure associated with fish farming activities. The episode documents the first steps of a long-term restoration effort, including scientific assessments, seabed clean-up operations and the first seagrass transplantations. It also highlights the importance of policy support, governance and community engagement in ensuring lasting restoration outcomes.
Episode 2: Menorca – Bringing a Lost Meadow Back
In Cala Blanca, Menorca, ARTEMIS focuses on restoring a seagrass meadow damaged by a bentonite spill more than fifteen years ago. The episode showcases how restoration practitioners are helping nature recover through science-based interventions while engaging local communities and visitors in understanding the value of underwater ecosystems and the need to protect them.
Episode 3: Sardinia – Restoring Posidonia Meadows in a Marine Protected Area
The third episode travels to the Marine Protected Area of Capo Testa – Punta Falcone in northern Sardinia. Here, ARTEMIS addresses one of the main pressures affecting seagrass habitats: damage caused by uncontrolled anchoring. Through innovative restoration techniques and the installation of sustainable mooring systems, the project contributes to the protection and restoration of 200 hectares of marine habitat while promoting sustainable tourism and public awareness.
Episode 4: Monfalcone – Protecting Cymodocea nodosa on a Busy Coast
The final episode takes viewers to Monfalcone, in the Gulf of Panzano, where efforts focus on the conservation and restoration of Cymodocea nodosa meadows. Although less well known than Posidonia oceanica, this seagrass species plays a vital role in supporting biodiversity, improving water quality and storing carbon. The episode demonstrates how cooperation among scientists, local authorities and sea users can help reduce pressures on marine ecosystems and create a more sustainable future for coastal communities.
Full Documentary: A Shared Journey of Mediterranean Restoration
The full documentary takes viewers on a journey across ARTEMIS’s four pilot sites, weaving together different restoration stories into a shared narrative about the future of the Mediterranean’s marine ecosystems. Through the voices of scientists, stakeholders and local communities, it highlights how science, policy, financing and collaboration can turn nature restoration into a meaningful opportunity to protect biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience and support the sustainable development of coastal areas.
Join us beneath the surface and discover the people, science and innovation driving a growing movement to restore the Mediterranean Sea.
Watch the ARTEMIS Documentary Series
- Episode 1: Crete: From Impact to Restoration
- Episode 2: Menorca – Bringing a Lost Meadow Back
- Episode 3: Sardinia – Restoring Posidonia Meadows in a Marine Protected Area
- Episode 4: Monfalcone – Protecting Cymodocea nodosa on a Busy Coast
- Full Documentary: Bringing Life to the Mediterranean: Restoring Seagrass Ecosystems
The Interreg Euro-MED ARTEMIS project (Accelerating the Restoration of Seagrass Meadows in the Mediterranean Area through Innovative Ecosystem-Service Based Solutions) aims to improve the restoration techniques of Posidonia oceanica meadows, assess the ecosystem services they provide, and create innovative techniques for integrating them into both policy-making and investment decisions. The project has been implemented by ten partners across five European and Mediterranean countries, with Plan Bleu as the project coordinator, from January 2024 through June 2026.
