NaturPorts is an innovative project co-financed by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and developed between 2024 and 2026 primarily in the Port of Vigo. Its mission is to restore degraded coastal ecosystems and enhance biodiversity and climate resilience in port environments through the application of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS). Anchored in scientific rigor and collaborative governance, NaturPorts integrates ecological restoration directly into active port operations, directly addressing the environmental impacts on air, water and natural habitats caused by port activities.
The project stands out for its innovative use of eco-engineering and habitat rehabilitation, implemented through three pilot actions: the restoration of seagrass meadows, the ecological enhancement of rocky reefs using Nature-based concrete structures, and the transformation of port breakwaters into productive barnacle breeding zones. These interventions not only improve ecosystem functionality and water quality, but also support commercial marine species, contribute to carbon sequestration, and convert grey infrastructure into living blue assets.
A robust environmental monitoring program supports the project, including pre- and post-intervention ecological assessments and the definition of specific indicators for biodiversity, biomass, biofiltration, and carbon fixation. The pilots have demonstrated measurable improvements in ecological quality, including increased species richness, improved physiological condition of marine vegetation, and enhanced habitat complexity.
NaturPorts brings together institutions with complementary expertise, including the Port of Vigo, the Universities of Vigo and Oviedo, and research centres like IIM-CSIC, strengthening the project’s scientific, technical, and social foundations. With strong cross-sector collaboration, community engagement, and science-based restoration, NaturPorts charts a replicable path toward sustainable and resilient port ecosystems.