University of Gibraltar Receives Darwin Plus Funding for Marine Life Monitoring and Coral Restoration Projects

Image: Orange Cup Coral.

In this funding cycle the University of Gibraltar has been awarded two grants totalling £149,000 to support marine conservation projects in Gibraltar under this scheme.

The first project (Building Skills and Capacity to Monitor Microscopic Marine Life, Gibraltar / DPLPS001) focuses on building local expertise to monitor microscopic marine life such as plankton, algae, and fish larvae. These organisms serve as key indicators of environmental health and water quality, helping detect pollution, invasive species, harmful algal blooms, and climate change effects. This two-year project will build local capacity by expanding existing monitoring protocols and linking these with public health objectives.

The second initiative (CORA – Coral Outplanting and Restoration for Astroides calycularis / DPL00136) aims to trial the restoration of the Orange Cup Coral (Astroides calycularis), an endemic species in the Western Mediterranean threatened by habitat loss and human activities. Coral fragments will be transplanted onto an artificial reef to encourage growth and biodiversity, supporting the recovery of local coral populations and enhancing marine ecosystem health.

The University is grateful to Darwin Plus for supporting conservation projects in UK Overseas Territories and we look forward to implementing these conservation projects.

Image: Plankton found in Gibraltar waters