Sea pens in the Mediterranean Sea: habitat suitability and opportunities for ecosystem recovery

The aim of this study is to synthesize available information on sea pens in the Mediterranean Sea and fill existing knowledge gaps through modelling of suitable habitat, with the overarching goal of informing strategies for protecting sea pen habitats from trawling impacts and facilitating their recovery. A review spanning the last 30 years was conducted to map the distribution of Mediterranean sea pen species. In the Adriatic Sea, presence-absence data were modelled with generalized additive models (GAMs) to identify potentially suitable habitats for Funiculina quadrangularis, Virgularia mirabilis, and Pennatula spp. Results show that sea pen distribution in the Mediterranean is mainly limited to continental northern shelves. Six species have been recorded throughout the Adriatic basin, where habitat suitability models confirm that its soft bottoms yield favourable conditions for sea pen assemblages. This information can help guide strategies for diminishing and reversing the impacts of bottom trawling on these vulnerable habitats.