CICA researchers take part in the ALGAPROX project to ensure the sustainability of macroalgae along the Galician coast

The Interdisciplinary Centre for Chemistry and Biology (CICA) at the University of A Coruña, member of the CIGUS Network —an initiative promoted by the Xunta de Galicia that brings together centres with accredited scientific excellence—, joins the ALGAPROX project, an initiative aimed at the technical study and sustainable management of various species of macroalgae in Galicia.

The BioCost group, led by Professor Javier Cremades, is responsible for monitoring and repopulating the species Himanthalia elongata, commonly known as “sea spaghetti” or “belt weed”. This seaweed, of great ecological and commercial interest, has seen its presence decline due to various factors such as overexploitation, climate change, or habitat transformation. The CICA team is working on embryo cultivation and their planting in natural habitats with the aim of reinforcing or reintroducing declining populations.

At the same time, studies are being carried out to improve harvesting practices in collaboration with the sector. As Javier Cremades explains to CICA: “The idea is to study the best way to harvest it — when to do it, how, and which part to collect — in order to design a management approach that is sustainable.” The group leader also emphasises the importance of involving local fishers’ guilds in the development and implementation of these strategies.

In addition to collaborating with various fishers’ guilds and organisations from the regional fishing and shellfish sectors, this initiative is coordinated by the Marine Research Centre (CIMA) of the Xunta de Galicia and is 70% co-funded by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).

Furthermore, the ALGAPROX project also focuses on the study of invasive species such as Sargassum muticum and Undaria pinnatifida, as well as Ulva clathrata, an alga responsible for green tides that affect shellfish beds. With an integrated approach, the ultimate goal of this initiative is to preserve the biodiversity of coastal ecosystems and promote the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of Galicia’s marine environment.