1. State of the
Mediterranean
Marine and Coastal Environment
Maria Luisa Silva Mejias
Executive Secretary & Coordinator
UNEP/MAP Barcelona Convention
Athens, 5 June 2013
United Nations Environment Programme
Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP)
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3. The Mediterranean
Mare Nostrum
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4. The Mediterranean
A large and complex marine and coastal ecosystem…
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5. The Mediterranean
Environment and Sustainable Development are intrinsically connected.
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6. The Mediterranean
Mediterranean Action Plan/Barcelona Convention is a governance framework.
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7. The State of the Environment Reports
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8. The Physical Mediterranean
Geography, landscapes, hydrology, climate, water circulation patterns and
chemical characteristics condition the State of its Environment.
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9. The Physical Mediterranean
Rivers play a key role in terms of sustaining marine production, water
balance, sea water quality and salinity.
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10. The Human Mediterranean
Population dynamics and economic pressures have a major incidence on the
Status of our Sea
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11. The Human Mediterranean
Urban development in the Mediterranean has been rapidly increasing.
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12. Tourism in the Mediterranean
The Mediterranean is the largest global tourism destination, attracting almost a
third of the world’s international tourists.
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13. The 11 Ecological Objectives for the
Mediterranean
Maintaining or enhancing Biodiversity
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14. The 11 Ecological Objectives for the
Mediterranean
Invasive non-indigenous species
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15. The 11 Ecological Objectives for the
Mediterranean
Commercially exploited Fish and Shellfish
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16. The 11 Ecological Objectives for the
Mediterranean
Commercially exploited Fish and Shellfish
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17. The 11 Ecological Objectives for the
Mediterranean
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18. The 11 Ecological Objectives for the
Mediterranean
Marine Food Webs
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19. The 11 Ecological Objectives for the
Mediterranean
Eutrophication
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20. The 11 Ecological Objectives for the
Mediterranean
Sea-floor integrity
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21. The 11 Ecological Objectives for the
Mediterranean
Changes in hydrographic conditions
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22. The 11 Ecological Objectives for the
Mediterranean
Coastal development and sprawl
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23. The 11 Ecological Objectives for the
Mediterranean
Chemical contamination
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24. The 11 Ecological Objectives for the
Mediterranean
Chemical contamination
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25. The 11 Ecological Objectives for the
Mediterranean
Marine Litter and Marine Noise
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26. Concluding remarks
None of these 11 factors exist in isolation.
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27. Concluding remarks
The remaining knowledge gaps
are significant.
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28. Concluding remarks
Governance counts….
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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.
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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.
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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 Programme
Mediterranean Action Plan
Barcelona Convention
www.unepmap.org
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