Meghan Hodges
The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most polluted marine areas in the world. It is estimated that the Mediterranean is polluted by 730 tonnes of plastic waste every day, with plastics accounting for 95 to 100% of total floating litter and more than 50% of seabed litter. The Mediterranean's enclosed shape and coastal urbanization make it particularly susceptible to pollution, with limited outflow circulation causing waste to accumulate. The sea's high volume of tourism, industrial activity, and shipping also contribute to the problem. Initiatives to reduce and end marine plastic pollution in the Mediterranean are being implemented, but the governance of this issue is complex due to the nature of microplastics and the transboundary character of the matter.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Status of Pollution | One of the most polluted oceans on Earth, the Mediterranean Sea is the most waste-polluted sea in Europe. |
| Types of Pollutants | Plastics, microplastics, nanoplastics, untreated waste discharge, chemical usage, excess nutrient release, crude oil, mercury, cadmium, zinc, lead, untreated sewage, noise pollution, air pollution |
| Causes | High rates of urbanization and population, tourism, industrial activity, fishing, shipping, maritime traffic, agricultural run-off, sewage, waste generation and its mismanagement, open dumps, illegal dumping, burning, Nile River |
| Impact | Marine life is affected, including entanglement, ingestion, contamination by pollutants, behavioural disturbances, communication issues, hearing damage, stress, and death. |
| Initiatives | Regional Plan on Marine Litter Management (RPML), MAP Programme of Work (PoW), MedProgramme, Voluntary Guidelines on the Marking of Fishing Gear, use of smart bins, awareness-raising campaigns, monitoring of debris and litter, more sustainable packaging |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic pollution
The Mediterranean Sea is vulnerable to plastic pollution due to its semi-enclosed shape, dense coastal populations, and tourism, fishing, shipping, and industrial activities. It is estimated that the Mediterranean receives about 730 tonnes of plastic waste daily, with an annual input of 10,000 tons. The sea holds only 1% of the world's waters but concentrates 7% of all global microplastics.
Plastic debris in the Mediterranean impacts marine life and ecosystems, leading to ingestion, suffocation, and entanglement of marine species. It also acts as a vector for invasive species and absorbs persistent organic pollutants. Microplastics, in particular, threaten human health and the livelihoods of those dependent on fisheries. The Mediterranean has been identified as a "'target hotspot'" for microplastics, with concentrations approximately four times greater than in the North Pacific Ocean. These microplastics are found on the sea's surface, beaches, and deep seafloor, and their movement is influenced by wind, storms, and currents, causing them to accumulate in specific areas.
The sources of plastic pollution in the Mediterranean are diverse. A 2019 report estimates that 70% of plastic pollution from water-based sources comes from Egypt, Turkey, and Italy. Land-based sources include Turkey, Morocco, Israel, Spain, France, Syria, Egypt, Albania, Tunisia, and Italy. Rivers, such as the Nile, contribute significantly to plastic waste in the Mediterranean, bringing in about 200 tonnes of plastic waste annually.
Initiatives to address plastic pollution in the Mediterranean are complex due to the nature of microplastics, the transboundary nature of the issue, and the increasing production of plastics. However, efforts are being made at various levels to reduce and end the problem. The European Union has formulated strategies for preservation and remediation, and Mediterranean countries have adopted regulations and policies to control and manage microplastic pollution.
The Regional Plan on Marine Litter Management (RPML), adopted in 2013, is a legally binding instrument aiming to prevent, reduce, and remove marine litter using environmentally sound techniques. The Barcelona Convention and EU policies also play a role in addressing plastic pollution in the region.
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Marine wildlife entanglement
The Mediterranean Sea is considered the most waste-polluted sea in Europe. It is estimated that the Mediterranean receives 730 tons of plastic waste every day, with plastic accounting for 95-100% of total floating litter and more than 50% of seabed litter. Single-use plastics represent more than 60% of the total recorded marine litter on beaches. The Mediterranean Sea is also defined as the "world's sixth greatest accumulation zone" for marine plastic litter, often referred to as an invisible "sixth garbage patch" due to the semi-enclosed shape of its basin and the lack of permanent litter accumulation areas.
Marine wildlife in the Mediterranean Sea is severely impacted by this pollution, with at least 800 marine and coastal species affected, including vulnerable species such as sea turtles and elasmobranchs. The high levels of plastic pollution in the region have led to increased entanglement cases for marine animals.
The issue of entanglement is addressed through various initiatives and response networks. The Barcelona Convention and its Specially Protected Areas/Biological Diversity (SPA/BD) Protocol have implemented several action plans, including the Action Plan for the conservation of Mediterranean marine turtles and the Action Plan for the conservation of cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea. Additionally, organizations like NOAA Fisheries work to prevent entanglements and rescue entangled animals. They collaborate with partners through the entanglement response and stranding network, utilizing techniques like "kegging" to safely free large whales from life-threatening entanglements.
To reduce entanglement risks, the Oregon Whale Entanglement Working Group was formed in 2017, bringing together stakeholders from fisheries, conservation societies, and scientists to discuss solutions. Initiatives like these are crucial in addressing the entanglement issue in the Mediterranean Sea, ensuring the safety and conservation of marine wildlife in the region.
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Noise pollution
The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most waste-polluted seas in Europe, and human activities have led to a drastic increase in marine noise pollution. The ocean is now reported to be 2–10 times louder compared to pre-industrial times. This noise pollution is a growing threat to marine life, and the trend is likely to continue due to increasing human populations, coastal urbanization, maritime traffic, oil extraction, and other ocean-based energy production systems.
Shipping, oil and gas exploration, construction, and military exercises are some of the activities that contribute to harmful noise pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. Ships are the predominant source of continuous, low-frequency underwater noise, with one study estimating that 91% of Europe's seas are exposed to constant shipping noise. Maritime transport and fishing also contribute to underwater noise, with sounds that negatively impact marine life.
The impact of this noise pollution on marine fauna includes disturbances in behavior, communication issues, hearing damage, stress, and even death. For example, low-frequency noise can impair the righting reflex behavior of sea slugs by disrupting their central nervous systems. Marine mammals like whales and dolphins, which rely heavily on sound, are particularly vulnerable.
To mitigate these adverse effects, experts recommend establishing particularly sensitive sea areas with limited noise levels, especially along migratory routes and breeding grounds. This approach aims to reduce the impact of noise pollution on marine life and ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea.
While the implementation of noise-reducing measures has been limited, the EU recognized the explicit need to address underwater noise pollution in 2021. Further research and the development of quieting measures are crucial to achieving this goal.
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Water pollution
The Mediterranean is a semi-enclosed sea, and its peculiar shape and currents cause waste to accumulate within it. As a result, it has been defined as the "world's sixth greatest accumulation zone" for marine plastic litter. The Nile River, for example, contributes around 200 tonnes of plastic waste to the Mediterranean annually. The Mediterranean is also a hub for maritime traffic, with one-third of the world's shipping passing through it. These ships discharge large amounts of crude oil and sewage into the sea each year, further contributing to water pollution.
The high levels of pollution in the Mediterranean have significant ecological, biological, economic, and social impacts. Marine life is severely affected, with at least 800 marine and coastal species exposed to plastic ingestion, entanglement, and contamination by pollutants. Plastic debris acts as a vector for invasive species and absorbs persistent organic pollutants, impacting marine ecosystems and socio-economic activities like fishing, navigation, and tourism.
Initiatives and policies are being implemented to address the problem of marine plastic pollution in the Mediterranean. The Regional Plan on Marine Litter Management (RPML), adopted in 2013, is a legally binding instrument aimed at preventing and reducing marine litter. The MedProgramme, comprised of eight child projects across ten countries, aims to deploy over 100 coordinated actions at regional and national levels to tackle pollution.
However, the governance of this issue is complex due to the nature of plastics, especially microplastics, the transboundary nature of the problem, and the increasing levels of plastic production. To effectively tackle water pollution in the Mediterranean, cooperation between all countries in the Mediterranean basin and the implementation of effective local and regional policies are urgently needed.
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Shipping and maritime traffic
The Mediterranean Sea is considered a hotspot for plastic pollution, with plastics accounting for 80% of waste in the marine and coastal environment. The sea is completely enclosed, except for the Strait of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal, so water circulates slowly, and pollutants accumulate. This semi-enclosed shape, coupled with its cyclonic circulation and currents, means that the Mediterranean is particularly vulnerable to pollution from maritime traffic.
Indeed, one-third of the world's shipping passes through the Mediterranean, and these ships discharge between 100,000 and 150,000 tonnes of crude oil each year. Vessels are also responsible for the introduction of plastic particles into the sea, with 9033 points in the Mediterranean Sea identified as sources of particles released by vessels.
To tackle this issue, experts suggest establishing particularly sensitive sea areas where noise levels are limited, with special attention given to migratory routes and breeding grounds. The regulation of ship paint and antifouling coatings has also been proposed to reduce the entry of microplastics into the sea.
Overall, shipping and maritime traffic play a significant role in polluting the Mediterranean Sea, and collective action is required to reduce the generation and dispersal of marine pollutants.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Mediterranean Sea is considered one of the most polluted areas on Earth.
The Mediterranean Sea is a hotspot for plastic pollution, with plastics accounting for 80% of waste dispersed in the marine and coastal environment. Other types of pollution found in the Mediterranean include untreated waste discharge, chemical usage, excess nutrient release, sewage, and noise pollution from shipping, oil and gas exploration, and military exercises.
Initiatives are being implemented at various levels to reduce and end the problem of marine plastics pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. The Regional Plan on Marine Litter Management (RPML) in the Mediterranean, adopted in 2013, is the first legally binding instrument aimed at preventing and reducing marine litter and plastic pollution. The Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) is another platform for regional cooperation in protecting and enhancing the marine and coastal environment while promoting sustainable development in the region.
