Nine supermarket trolleys were placed in the waters of the Tagus near the bay of Trafaria, in the municipality of Almada, and became the new habitat of seahorses. The initiative was created by the Portuguese Seabird Association and by the Oceanarium of Lisbon as part of a scientific research project that studies the behavior of these marine animals.
The supermarket trolleys work as artificial structures that mimic the natural habitats of seahorses, offering shelter and protection. Researchers believe this innovative solution can help protect the species, which is threatened, while gathering important data about their way of life.
The project involves partnerships with the local community and has the support of volunteers who participate in monitoring the trolleys. Researchers regularly monitor the structures to observe how seahorses adapt to this artificial environment and evaluate the success of the initiative.
The bay of Trafaria was chosen due to the favorable conditions of its waters for marine life. The initial results of the study show that seahorses are using the trolleys as home, which suggests the solution can be replicated in other coastal areas to contribute to the conservation of the species.
