Eco-moorings, seagrass meadows and an app for sustainable boating: protecting the Adriatic at the European Week of Regions and Cities
16/10/2026
On Tuesday 13 October, the Municipality of Monfalcone, Lead Partner of BIOPRESSADRIA, presented the project's aims, objectives and concrete actions at the conference "Radici del mare" (Roots of the Sea). The meeting took place at the Brussels office of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, as part of the European Week of Regions and Cities, the annual event organised by the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions.
The presentation focused on the Gulf of Panzano, one of the project's five pilot sites. The Municipality of Monfalcone shared the results of the monitoring carried out by project partner SELC on the health of the local seagrass meadows. It then presented the pilot action implemented in the gulf: a buoy field with 30 eco-moorings that protects the seabed, regulates anchoring and encourages sustainable boating.
The app developed within the project was also given ample attention. It is free, available for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, and brings the project's WebGIS maps on board. When a boat approaches a sensitive area, the app sends a visual and audible alert and points to the nearest eco-mooring buoy field or to a seabed suitable for anchoring. Each pilot site has its own fact sheet with local rules and data on the condition of the meadows. Designed mainly for recreational boaters, the app is also useful for nautical and tourism operators, managing authorities, schools and citizens. No registration is required: users only need GPS and location permission.
More broadly, in Brussels the Municipality of Monfalcone presented ten years of projects supported by around 7 million euros in European funding. BIOPRESSADRIA stands out among them.
The event was attended by the President of the Regional Council, Mauro Bordin, Member of the European Parliament Anna Maria Cisint and Regional Councillor Antonio Calligaris. The Chamber of Commerce of Venezia Giulia and GALPA FVG, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Local Action Group of Friuli Venezia Giulia, also took part.
