Monitoring of oyster habitats in the northern Adriatic Sea

This monitoring activity led by the University of Padua in collaboration with ISPRA, focuses on documenting pre-restoration baseline conditions and monitoring the outcomes of restoration activities in oyster habitats across the Northern Adriatic Sea. The program began in 2024 and will continue after restoration implementations planned for summer 2025. It includes multiannual sampling of sedimentary environments, restored oyster habitats, and adjacent hard substrates such as coralligenous reefs and artificial structures. Seven sites in total are monitored, with UNIPD responsible for 3 sites located approximately 4 miles offshore Lignano Sabbiadoro, near the MPA of Tegnue di Chioggia (10 miles offshore Chioggia), and near the Adriatic LNG regasification facility (Porto Tolle). Oysters and coralligenous reefs will be sampled using photographic estimates of percent cover or counts in quadrats of 21x28 cm. Fish communities are sampled through Visual Census (transects of 10 x 1 m due to the very low visibility) and underwater videos. Sedimentary habitats are sampled using a sediment grab/box corer. We are also doing e-DNA analysis both in the sedimentary and coralligenous areas.