Environment & Climate

Spanish study shows chicken liver sea sponge can survive in polluted harbour waters

Researchers found that one species of sea sponge survived and reproduced in a Mediterranean port, indicating potential for marine bioremediation.

Updated Sep 1, 2026 · 08:18 UTC1 reports

The short version

Researchers from the Spanish National Research Council tested five sea sponge species in Marina Palamós to evaluate their survival in polluted harbour environments.
Nearly 92% of the chicken liver sponge specimens survived over a 15-month study and reproduced asexually, while the four other tested species died.
Researchers noted the arrival of red starfish settling near the sponges and plan to conduct long-term monitoring and further study on combining sponges with oysters.
Experts emphasize that further research is required to determine if the findings apply to other geographic regions or how the sponges interact with specific pollutants.

Spanish National Research Council biologist Manuel Maldonado and student Carlota Escarré conducted a 15-month study transplanting five sea sponge species into Marina Palamós on Spain's Costa Brava.[The Guardian]
Nearly 92% of the chicken liver sponge (Chondrosia reniformis) specimens survived in the harbour's polluted waters, increasing their population from 24 to 40 via asexual reproduction.[The Guardian]
The four other sponge species tested—including the red encrusting sponge, leather sponge, and stinker sponge—shrank and died during the study.[The Guardian]
Red starfish were observed settling in the study site following the introduction of the chicken liver sponges.[The Guardian]

It remains unknown whether chicken liver sponges can survive in harbour environments outside the localized study area, such as colder or chemically distinct locations.[The Guardian]
Researchers have not yet determined the exact biological mechanisms and microbiome interactions that allow the chicken liver sponge to endure harbour pollutants.[The Guardian]