PALMA, 17 (EUROPA PRESS)
The 'Seahorses of the Balearic Islands' project, a collaboration between Banca March and the Palma Aquarium Foundation, has successfully reintroduced 1,517 seahorses into various marine protected areas and Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) on the islands.
According to a press release, this initiative continues to consolidate itself as one of the most important marine conservation projects in the Balearic Islands, after nearly four years of joint work. The project was launched in 2022 with the goal of contributing to the recovery of the two native seahorse species found in the Mediterranean, whose populations have experienced a significant decline in recent decades.
Additionally, it has reached over 3.4 million people, and more than 660 copies of the children's story about seahorses have been distributed to schools in the Balearic Islands, fostering environmental awareness from a young age.
The project's continuity is guaranteed by the renewal, in March 2026, of the collaboration agreement between Banca March and the Foundation for another two years. This new phase will allow for further progress in the research and recovery of these species, as well as strengthening environmental education initiatives.
Recent developments include the hiring of a veterinarian specializing in marine wildlife and the implementation of new biosecurity protocols to improve the well-being of the seahorses.
"Gargols de les Balears" is made possible by the charitable component of the Mediterranean Fund, a sustainable equity thematic fund launched by March A.M., the asset management arm of the Banca March Group. The fund invests in two growth themes – the blue economy and the water sector – and allocates 10 percent of its management fee to projects aimed at conserving marine biodiversity and protecting the environment.
