Greece has placed 3D-printed artificial reefs on the seafloor of the Alonnisos National Marine Park for the first time i...

Greece has placed 3D-printed artificial reefs on the seafloor of the Alonnisos National Marine Park for the first time in the country's history. The structures were deployed by the Thessaly Regional Development Fund and the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research as part of a European Union-funded program called LIFE DREAM. The reefs are printed from biodegradable materials designed to mimic the natural structure of coral. Over time the materials break down gradually, allowing coral species, sponges, and other bottom-dwelling organisms to colonize the structures and eventually leave behind a permanent natural reef. The LIFE DREAM project, funded under the EU's LIFE 2021-2027 program and coordinated by Italy's National Research Council, is running simultaneously in Greece, Italy, and Spain. Its goals include mapping degraded reef systems, removing marine debris, and piloting circular economy methods that recycle plastics pulled from the sea. The Alonnisos Marine Park was chosen as one of four Mediterranean sites for the project because of its extensive coralligenous formations, gorgonians, and other protected species, which have come under pressure mainly from small-scale fishing activity. Natural reefs rank among the most threatened marine habitats in the Mediterranean, with abandoned fishing gear and rising sea temperatures cited as the primary drivers of their decline. Alongside the underwater deployment, awareness campaigns have already been held in schools across Alonnisos and the Larissa region. Researchers say the intervention represents a new approach to protecting marine biodiversity in Greek waters. #Greece #MarineConservation #Alonnisos