A recent study published in Science of the Total Environment reveals that fish biodiversity and abundance along the coast of Vilanova i la Geltrú have declined significantly over the past decade. The research, led by the SARTI, is based on over 78,000 images collected by the OBSEA underwater observatory.

The results show a 23% drop in the number of species and a reduction of over 50% in the average number of fish observed. These findings point to an ecological imbalance possibly linked to climate change and human activity.

The research team highlights the need to extend this type of monitoring to other parts of the Mediterranean coast and advocates for continued investment in marine observation technologies like those integrated at OBSEA: live-streaming cameras, environmental sensors, hydrophones, and real-time data systems.

Read the full UPC news article here