This paper describes the PREI (Posidonia oceanica Rapid Easy Index), a method used to assess the ecological status of seawater along Mediterranean French coasts. The PREI was drawn up according to the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD 2000/60/EC) and was tested on 24 and 18 stations in PACA (Provence-Alpes-Côtes d'Azur) and Corsica, respectively. The PREI is based on five metrics: shoot density, shoot leaf surface area, E/L ratio (epiphytic biomass/leaf biomass), depth of lower limit, and type of this lower limit. The 42 studied stations were classified in the first four levels of status: high, good, moderate and poor. The PREI values ranged between 0.280 and 0.847; this classification is in accordance with our field knowledge and with our knowledge of the literature. The PREI was validated regarding human pressure levels (r(2)=0.74). (http://eurex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2000:327:0001:0072:EN:PDF).

The LIMA index conveys the environmental interest and quality of the landscape formed by the Mediterranean benthos, ranging from 0 to − 40 m, in numerical format. The LIMA index allows a comparison spatially and temporarily between sites. It is a comprehensive index which is easy to implement and is composed of two factors: a topographical description (classification of 15 typologies) and a biological description (the presence or absence of some thirty species or groups of structuring, remarkable and invasive species). The LIMA index has been validated in the Bay of Calvi (Corsica-France) where it varies between 0.31 and 0.79 on a scale of 0.00-1.00.