SPA/RAC participated in the LIFE PINNA Webinar, held on 14 May 2025, which focused on the restocking of Pinna nobilis in the Mediterranean.
The event provided a platform for crucial discussions on the recovery of this iconic and critically endangered species.
The webinar highlighted findings from the LIFE PINNA and other European projects, with a focus on genetic approaches and large-scale restoration strategies.
Pinna nobilis, one of the Mediterranean's largest bivalves, has suffered dramatic population declines since 2016 due notably to a deadly pathogen. Listed in Annex II of the SPA/BD Protocol of the Barcelona Convention, it remains a key conservation priority for the region.
SPA/RAC presented the Pinna nobilis Restoration Programme, adopted under the Barcelona Convention (Decision IG.26/5, 2023). The strategy outlines essential measures such as habitat protection, larval collection, translocation of resistant individuals, and genetic conservation.
To support its implementation, a Pan-Mediterranean Task Force will soon be established to lead, propose, and assess the translocation of potentially resistant individuals and address all matters related to the species' restoration.
