In: Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on the Mediterranean Coastal Environment, MEDCOAST 03, E. Özhan (Editor), 7-11 October 2003, Ravenna, Italy. Vol 2: 843-852. A New Seagrass Map for the Venice Lagoon Andrea Rismondo (1) , Daniele Curiel (1) , Francesco Scarton (1) , Daniele Mion (1) , Giovanni Caniglia (2) (1) SELC scarl, Via dell’Elettricità 5, 30174, Marghera-Venezia, Italy Tel: +39-041-5384817 Fax: +39-041-5384757 E-mail: rismondo@selc.it (2) Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Padova, Via Trieste 75, Padova, Italy Tel: +39-049-8276239 Fax +39-049-8276260 E-mail:giovanni.caniglia@unipd.it Abstract In 1990 the first mapping project of submerged aquatic rooted vegetation was carried out to determinate the coverage of three species of seagrasses (Zostera marina Zostera noltii and Cymodocea nodosa occurring in the Lagoon of Venice. After twelve years a new program of research has been started in the framework of a monitoring project carried by Consorzio Venezia Nuova, on behalf of Magistrato alle Acque, Venice. Part of this project deals with the update of seagrass map of Venice Lagoon. All shallow bottoms, tidal flats and channels (not deeper than 2.5 metre) of the Lagoon have been surveyed, as it was made for the previous mapping of 1990. Field operations have been carried out by boat, adopting a satellite positioning system with D- GPS technology (accuracy: 1 metre) connected to a portable PC where all data collected in the field, concerning presence of the species, coverage percentage and other information about seagrass meadows have been recorded and daily downloaded to a desk station.