Art as Ecological Intervention: Evaluating Submerged Marble Sculpture Barriers as a Novel Deterrent Against Illegal Bottom Trawling in Mediterranean Posidonia Meadows

Bottom trawling represents one of the most destructive fishing practices threatening Mediterranean marine ecosystems, posing a particularly severe risk to ancient Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows that provide essential ecological services. This paper investigates an innovative, community-driven intervention that integrates both aesthetic and functional dimensions: the installation of monumental marble sculptures as physical barriers to deter illegal trawling activities in the coastal waters near Talamone, Italy.