Description

The violescent seawhip is only found in the Mediterranean sea! It is has a soft skeleton which shares polyps.i.e., small animals that have tentacles. It likes rocky overhands up to 100 meters deep where it grows perpendicularly to the currents in order to filter the water to catch microorganisms. Its branches are generally red but their tips can sometimes be tinged with yellow.

Scientific name

Paramuricea clavata

Natural habitats

Rocky seabeds

Did you know?

Gorgonians grow very slowly, between one to three centimetres per year, and they can live up to 50 years old.

Conservation stake

Low

Threats

• Uprooting
• Destruction by fishing boats
• Changes to its environment
• Climate change

How can I help to protect it?

• I use environment-friendly mooring techniques to limit the impact of anchoring
• In the case of anchoring out at sea,I only anchor in areas where marine habitats are not fragile and raise the anchor vertically
• I do not disturb marine wildlife. Look but don’t touch!
• I avoid contact with the seabed and with sloping faces
• I avoid repeated and long visits to caves
• I report any unusual environmental incidents
• I recover waste and dispose of it in suitable bins on land
• I do not gather souvenirs from the sea
• I share this best practice with other seafarers and raise their awareness.