The Balearic Sea Report (IMB) team goes from strengthen to strength with the addition of a new researcher, Margalida Monserrat, PhD in Environmental Sciences and expert in algae and marine forests. Welcome, Margalida!
Originally from Portocolom, Margalida is back in Mallorca after a Mediterranean journey through cities such as Nice and Genoa, where she specialised in marine restoration projects and macroalgae forests. Since last July, she has been putting her knowledge and effort into conserving the Balearic Sea. ‘Knowing what is happening, what we have, is the only way to value and protect it,’ she explains.
Margalida's relationship with the sea dates back to her childhood. ‘I've always loved nature and plants, and as a child I was often in Portocolom fishing with my parents and grandparents, diving...’. As for her fascination with seaweed, these great unknowns, she recalls, ‘When we talk about seaweed, we always think of nutrients or dirt, but not all of it is like that. There are seaweeds that form underwater forests, which are indicators of very good water quality and are crucial for balanced ecosystems. In fact, they are the basis for all coastal biodiversity and preserve a wide variety of ecosystem services.’
