Seascape Restoration in the Bassin d’Arcachon

The Parc naturel marine du Bassin d’Arcachon envisions a bold new direction centred on seascape restoration. Our StoryMap takes you on a tour of Bassin d’Arcachon, exploring its ecological and socio-economic history, and highlighting current restoration approaches and future targets informed by cutting-edge seascape ecological theory.

Oyster farms and boat mooring in Bassin d’Arcachon

Courtney Stuart, PhD student in the Seascape Lab, has led the creation of an interactive StoryMap on seascape restoration in the Bassin d’Arcachon, France. Developed in partnership with the Parc naturel marine du Bassin d’Arcachon (PNMBA) and the European Seagrass Restoration Alliance (ESRA), the StoryMap is available in both English and French.

The Seascape Lab, the PNMBA, and ESRA partnered to connect the latest seascape restoration science with marine policy to enhance the recovery of the Bassin d’Arcachon. Committed to moving beyond seagrass-focused efforts, the PNMBA is transitioning toward whole seascape restoration in the coming years. As part of this shift, they will apply the five core principles of seascape ecology to strategic planning and restoration design: Context, Configuration, Connectivity, Consideration of Scale, and Culture.

This work was supported through an Oxford Policy Engagement Network (OPEN) Fellowship awarded to Dr Lisa Wedding, following Research England’s Policy Support Fund allocation to the University of Oxford. 

If you like this StoryMap, take a look at our StoryMaps page to engage with other research in the Seascape Lab.