Long-Term Ecosystem Monitoring Along the Trabocchi Coast (Chieti, Italy): Insights from Underwater Visual Surveys (2011–2024).

This study explores the use of underwater visual surveys (UVSs) to assess biodiversity along the Trabocchi Coast of the Adriatic Sea, one of the few remaining areas with natural reefs in Italy’s middle Adriatic region GSA17. Fourteen years of observations underscore the effectiveness of UVSs in ecological monitoring and enhancing understanding of the Trabocchi reef’s biodiversity, which has thus far been minimally studied. The marine environment supports a complete and balanced trophic structure, from producers and invertebrates to vertebrate species, including herbivorous fish, a variety of predators, and even bottlenose dolphins. The Trabocchi Coast also serves as a nursery for commercially valuable species (56.5%) and hosts several “climate” indicator fish species (33.3%). Species of regulatory concern, such as Lithophaga lithophaga and Cladocora caespitosa, both listed under CITES Appendix II, as well as invasive species like Rapana venosa and the harmful dinoflagellate Ostreopsis ovata, which poses public health risks, are also found here. This work aligns with the 2023 National Biodiversity Strategy, emphasizing UVSs’ role in raising awareness and supporting the conservation of marine resources under increasing anthropogenic pressures. Sustainable coastal management and responsible tourism are particularly vital for preserving the fragile ecosystems along the Trabocchi Coast.