Gorgonians in Galicia

Gorgonians in the Atlantic Islands

In 2025, Redeia's Marine Forest formalised a collaboration agreement with the Amicos Association for the restoration of gorgonians in the vicinity of the Atlantic Islands Maritime-Terrestrial National Park in Galicia.

Active restoration and social awareness

With this initiative, the Marine Forest makes the leap from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean. This innovative project, which uses the 'Badminton' scientific methodology developed by the ICM-CSIC, is yet another example of Redeia's determination to conserve the sea. .

This action is aligned with the commitment of the platform and of Red Eléctrica's parent company to contributing to ODS 14.

The objective of the initiative is to protect and conserve Galicia's marine biodiversity through active restoration actions. At the same time, the project aims to raise awareness among civil society and contribute to the integration of people with disabilities. That is why the fishing sector – whose activity is affected by the loss of marine habitat – plays a leading role in restoring the ecosystem.

The involvement of fishermen is key to this project, as they are the ones who personally recover the gorgonians they accidentally catch while fishing. Once in port, they deliver them to the Gorgonian Hospital that Amicos has set up in the Ribeira Fish Market, where nurses restore and rear them until they are returned to the sea, next to the Atlantic Islands Maritime-Terrestrial National Park.

The innovative badminton method consists of attaching the gorgonians to natural stones to act as weights, which allows the colonies to land upright when dropped from a boat.

The Marine Forest, alongside the Amicos Association, will act in marine areas of high ecological value in Galicia that already have various environmental protection designations: The Atlantic Islands of Galicia Maritime-Terrestrial National Park in the SPAs of the Cíes Islands, Ons Island, the Rías Baixas Protected Area, and the Corrubedo Coastal Complex.

Alongside fishermen and collectives

Gorgonians are slow-growing organisms in deep-sea ecosystems that serve as a shelter, feeding, and breeding ground for a wide diversity of species, many of which are of commercial interest. Consequently, areas with a high density of these species are prime fishing grounds, and therefore suffer greater fishing pressure.

During their activity, gorgonians are frequently caught unintentionally by fishermen, in a volume that accounts for up to 57 per cent of bycatch. This is one of the fundamental causes decimating gorgonian populations, which in turn drastically reduces the stock of commercial fish species, as well as the richness of marine biodiversity.

Caring for the people who care for the sea

The project highlights the work of 40 people with intellectual disabilities as fundamental environmental agents in marine conservation.

How do they do it?

They receive the gorgonians collected by the fishermen
They care for them in the Ribeira Fish Market hospital for their recovery and growth
They paint the stones to which the gorgonians are attached using an ecological adhesive
They return them to the sea for active restoration
The badminton method

More info

Project objectives

Contribute to seabed restoration

Contribute to the restoration of the seabed in the protected areas of the Rías Baixas in Galicia through the collection, maintenance, and return of gorgonians.

Foster public awareness

Foster public awareness of the importance of conserving and restoring our seabed to safeguard Galician marine biodiversity.

Highlight the work carried out by people with disabilities

Highlight the work carried out by people with disabilities from Amicos in their active role as environmental agents, through their direct inclusion in the actions.

In the media

Galician television has reported on this project in which Redeia and the Amicos Association have joined forces to conserve and recover the gorgonian forests of Galicia.