The coralligenous habitat (1170, ISPRA 2020) is one of the most important benthic ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea, whose conservation represents a major challenge for the management of marine–coastal systems (Ballesteros, 2006). Coralligenous walls are biodiversity hot spots, formed by carbonate deposition from encrusting coralline algae and various invertebrates, primarily Cnidaria, Polychaeta, Porifera, and Bryozoa.

The restoration activities aim to recover the ecosystem services of Habitat 1170 of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), with particular reference to the Coralligenous biocoenosis (including its characteristic features and facies) and the most relevant associated communities, including those dominated by Cystoseira spp.

Due to the lack of established protocols for the restoration of Coralligenous habitats, an experimental restoration program has been developed, which includes the following activities:

• Recovery of organisms and portions of habitat from bycatch
• A phase of recovery of vital functions in a controlled environment
• Their relocation to the marine environment onto natural substrates, existing artificial substrates (e.g., coastal infrastructures), and artificial substrates specifically positioned in selected sites. Their adaptation and the recovery of ecosystem functions will be continuously monitored during the monitoring phases planned throughout the entire project.