From habitat mapping to deep‐sea ecosystems restoration: Conceptual and operational tools for recovering cold‐water coral habitats in two Mediterranean canyons

Abstract The recent implementation of the European Union Nature Restoration Regulation (2024/1991) highlights the urgent need for innovative strategies to counter biodiversity loss in degraded marine ecosystems, such as those formed by stony cold‐water corals (CWCs) Madrepora oculata and Desmophyllum pertusum , increasingly degraded by anthropogenic activities and climate change. We developed a multidisciplinary framework that integrates high‐resolution geophysical mapping and oceanographic data with ecological surveys to identify areas suitable for deploying 3D‐printed artificial structures (EcoReefs) and transplanting coral fragments to support restoration of degraded CWC habitats in the Bari and Dohrn canyons. Restoration sites were selected within the Levantine Intermediate Water depth range, targeting areas impacted by marine litter and abandoned fishing gears. Seabed slope ≤15° was identified as a critical threshold for EcoReefs stability. To evaluate material‐specific effects on species recruitment, iron and steel plates were attached to the EcoReefs. The operational phase involved the deployment of 28 EcoReefs and 6 autonomous monitoring units using sub‐meter positioning accuracy. The monitoring units included cameras and ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler) sensors, enabling long‐term tracking of coral survival, recruitment and local hydrodynamic conditions. Policy implications . Our study provides evidence that active restoration of deep‐sea CWC habitats is technically feasible when guided by a rigorous, multidisciplinary approach integrating habitat mapping, ecological aspects and long‐term monitoring. The methodological framework presented here is intended to provide an operational template for designing and scaling restoration interventions in the deep‐sea, thereby supporting the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (2024/1991).