Monitoring of the macroalgae indicator under the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and control of invasive species

1. To assess the environmental quality of Catalonia’s coastal water bodies and the transitional waters of the Ebro Delta bays using the macroalgae indicator, in accordance with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC).
2. To study and monitor introduced species along the Catalan coast.

Particular attention will be given to the brown alga Rugulopteris okamurae, owing to its emerging spread across several locations along the Catalan coastline. This species is already causing severe impacts in other parts of the Spanish coast, both from a socio-economic perspective (tourism and fisheries) and an ecological one.

The work is being carried out during the 2025-2030 period under the Monitoring and Control Programme (PSiC) of the Catalan Water Agency and aims to obtain the CARLIT biological quality index (Littoral CARTography) for macroalgae and the BIOPOLLUTION index for introduced species.