An integrated high-resolution seafloor mapping framework for environmental management in a complex coastal system: the Taranto case study (Ionian Sea)

The area around the city of Taranto, located on the northern Ionian Sea coast of Apulia (southern Italy), is a highly polluted area, recognized as a Site of National Interest (SIN), necessitating urgent remediation. Marine environments cover nearly 50% of the SIN including three principal basins: Mar Piccolo, Mar Grande, and the open northern sector of the Ionian Sea. The whole marine area hosts high biodiversity but also experiences deep anthropic pressure. This study applies an integrated approach, employing indirect and direct survey methods, the results of which are implemented in a GIS to evaluate the interactions between morpho-sedimentary and bioecological processes and anthropogenic impacts. The study highlights the critical interaction between natural and anthropogenic factors that shape this coastal system. The high-resolution maps and integrated dataset provide a fundamental framework for environmental management, habitat conservation, and sustainable planning in a highly impacted coastal area.