1

State of the Mediterranean

Marine and Coastal Environment

Maria Luisa Silva MejiasExecutive Secretary & CoordinatorUNEP/MAP Barcelona Convention

Athens, 5 June 2013

United Nations Environment ProgrammeMediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP)

2

3

The Mediterranean

Mare Nostrum

4

The Mediterranean

A large and complex marine and coastal ecosystem…

5

The Mediterranean

Environment and Sustainable Development are intrinsically connected.

6

The Mediterranean

Mediterranean Action Plan/Barcelona Convention is a governance framework.

7

The State of the Environment Reports

8

The Physical Mediterranean

Geography, landscapes, hydrology, climate, water circulation patterns and chemical characteristics condition the State of its Environment.

9

The Physical Mediterranean

Rivers play a key role in terms of sustaining marine production, water balance, sea water quality and salinity.

10

The Human Mediterranean

Population dynamics and economic pressures have a major incidence on the Status of our Sea

11

The Human Mediterranean

Urban development in the Mediterranean has been rapidly increasing.

12

Tourism in the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean is the largest global tourism destination, attracting almost a third of the world’s international tourists.

13

The 11 Ecological Objectives for the Mediterranean

Maintaining or enhancing Biodiversity

14

The 11 Ecological Objectives for the Mediterranean

Invasive non-indigenous species

15

The 11 Ecological Objectives for the Mediterranean

Commercially exploited Fish and Shellfish

16

The 11 Ecological Objectives for the Mediterranean

Commercially exploited Fish and Shellfish

17

The 11 Ecological Objectives for the Mediterranean

18

The 11 Ecological Objectives for the Mediterranean

Marine Food Webs

19

The 11 Ecological Objectives for the Mediterranean

Eutrophication

20

The 11 Ecological Objectives for the Mediterranean

Sea-floor integrity

21

The 11 Ecological Objectives for the Mediterranean

Changes in hydrographic conditions

22

The 11 Ecological Objectives for the Mediterranean

Coastal development and sprawl

23

The 11 Ecological Objectives for the Mediterranean

Chemical contamination

24

The 11 Ecological Objectives for the Mediterranean

Chemical contamination

25

The 11 Ecological Objectives for the Mediterranean

Marine Litter and Marine Noise

26

Concluding remarks

None of these 11 factors exist in isolation.

27

Concluding remarks

The remaining knowledge gaps are significant.

28

Concluding remarks

Governance counts….

29

5 areas of achievements under the Mediterranean Action Plan framework

1. Continued ownership and participation of all its members.

2. Adoption an advanced environmental legal system with seven Protocols in force which operationalize the Convention with regard to:

a) Pollution, which was the Convention’s original focus, with 5 Protocols regulating: Dumping; Poll Prevention and Emergency; LBS; Hazardous Wastes; and, Off-Shore;b) Biodiversity (Species and Protected Areas including ABNJ); and,c) Integrated Coastal Zone Management.

30

5 areas of achievements under the Mediterranean Action Plan framework

3. Development of common regional policies, strategies, plans of action and other implementation measures as well as establishing a network of Centers and Programmes that foster regional cooperation and provide technical assistance;

4. Establishment of a regional system for monitoring marine pollution including a solid network of pollution monitoring institutions; and,

5. The recent adoption of an integrated framework for Ecosystems Based management in the Mediterranean.

31

11 Ecological Objectives of Ecosystem Approach

1. Biological diversity is maintained or enhanced

2. Non-indigenous species introduced by human activities are at levels that do not adversely affect the ecosystem

3. Population of selected commercially exploited fish and shellfish are within biologically safe limits

4. Alterations to the components of marine food webs do not have a long-term adverse effects

5. Human-induced eutrophication is prevented

6. Sea-floor integrity is maintained, especially in priority benthic habitats

7. Alteration of hydrographic conditions does not affect coastal and marine ecosystems

8. The natural dynamics of coastal areas are maintained and coastal ecosystems and landscapes are preserved

9. Contaminants cause no significant impact on coastal and marine ecosystems and human health

10. Marine and coastal litter do not adversely affect coastal and marine environment

11. Noise form human activities cause no significant impact on marine and coastal ecosystems

32

United Nations Environment ProgrammeMediterranean Action Plan

Barcelona Convention

www.unepmap.org