The State of the Mediterranean Marine and Coastal Environment

FRANCE

SLOVENIA

CROATIA

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

MONTENEGRO

ITALY

ALBANIA

SPAIN

TURKEY

GREECE

SYRIA

MALTA

CYPRUS

LEBANON

ISRAEL

TUNISIA

MOROCCO

ALGERIA

LIBYA

EGYPT

Coastal and marine natural resources Coastal and marine resources include both non-living resources, such as fertile soil, fresh water, and fossil fuels, and living resourc- es, such as fish. The availability of these resources is a precondi- tion for sustainable economic development in the region. The Mediterranean Basin faces growing problems with degradation of land resources and water scarcity as a result of human activity. Fisheries, also vital to Mediterranean economies, are threatened by over-exploitation and unsustainable practices (UNEP/MAP/ MED POL 2005).

through the Suez Canal and the Sumed pipeline (ending at Sidi Kerir, close to Alexandria), both to Mediterranean destinations and to ports west of Gibraltar. Transit voyages in 2006 accounted for only 15 % of the crude oil voyages. The remainder of the voy- ages either originated from or ended at Mediterranean ports. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shipments also make up a considerable proportion of the ener- gy-related shipments in the Mediterranean. The vast majority are intra-Mediterranean exports from North Africa to other ports in the Mediterranean, mostly in Europe. The forecast for maritime transport in the Mediterranean points to an increase in traffic, linked in part to increased exports of crude oil from the Caspian region and the Black Sea. Another factor is improved infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe, which could lead to an increase in bulk cargo through the Adri- atic ports, rather than through Northern European ports, which is the current practice. The major maritime-transport-related impacts that affect ma- rine environment are pollution from marine accidents and from antifouling-paint biocides, the introduction of pathogens and in- vasive species, ship-strike mortality of cetaceans and sea turtles, and underwater noise. Despite the regulation and eventual ban- ning of the discharge of waste at sea, the practice of dumping waste and other harmful substances continues to occur. Ongoing marine dumping, plus the legacy from past dumping, continues to subject the marine environment to considerable pressure. With regards to the coastal zone the development of maritime transport is inherently linked to the development of coastal in- frastructures such as ports and motorways and railways connect- ing inland areas to the ports. The development of large logistic coastal infrastructures brings, amongst others, fragmentation of coastal landscapes and habitats, changes in the land use and in- creased pollution loads.

Water stress in the Mediterranean basin

Existing and planned desalination plants Capacity, thousand cubic metres

Percentage, 2000-2010 Water Exploitation index 1

Less than 20

20 to 40 40 to 60 60 to 80

More than 50

50 or less

more than 80

Deserti cation

1. Ratio of annual volume extracted from natural esources/annual average volume of renewable natural sources

Severe desertiŽcation area

Sources: Blue Plan, informations based on national sources; Water, energy, desalination & climate change in the Mediterranean , 2008; IDAWorldwide Desalting Plants Inventory; Beilstein, M;, Bournay, E., Environment and Security in the Mediterranean: DesertiŽcation, ENVSEC, 2009.

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STATE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENT