Habitat Protection Archives

Lack of management plans leaves 90,000 km² without real protection after a decade of efforts

Spain’s largest marine conservation project, LIFE IP INTEMARES, falls short of delivering the necessary measures to protect threatened species and habitats Valencia — Oceana is calling on the Government to urgently adopt management plans for all areas included in the LIFE IP INTEMARES project. During the presentation of the project’s results today, it was confirmed that none of the ten planned management plans … Read more

Putting Ocean Health and Coastal Communities First

The remaining three years of the political mandate are a key opportunity for European policy-makers to use the Ocean Act to allow for competitive and future-proof coastal communities and a resilient ocean. But this opportunity will only be realised if the EU anchors the Ocean Act in binding targets, enforceable measures and accountability mechanisms — … Read more

New report: protecting the Mediterranean deep sea from trawling is scientifically-backed and makes climate sense

Brussels – Ahead of World Oceans Day (8 June), environmental organisations Oceana and MedReAct are releasing a new report, warning that destructive activities such as bottom trawling are threatening Mediterranean deep-sea ecosystems, weakening their ability to buffer climate impacts and to support marine life. The independent study was authored by scientists from Marche Polytechnic University (Italy). The organisations are urging the General Fisheries Commission … Read more

Deep-sea ecosystems of the Mediterranean Sea

Mediterranean deep-sea ecosystems, particularly those between 600 m and 1000 m depth, are among the region’s most ecologically valuable yet vulnerable environments. They host a mosaic of habitats, including cold-water coral reefs, sponge grounds, sea pen fields, bamboo coral (Isidella elongata) facies, submarine canyons, seamounts, and extensive soft-sediment plains. These systems support high biodiversity, important … Read more

Putting small-scale fishers first: Securing Cyprus’ coastal waters for sustainable fishing

Cyprus’ territorial waters are ecologically and economically significant. They host biodiverse habitats, like seagrass meadows and coral communities, encompass key breeding grounds for marine species, including sea turtles and migratory fishes, while also underpinning fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, coastal recreation, and other blue economy activities. In 2022, Cyprus’ blue economy generated an estimated €1.8 billion in … Read more

Detailed methods: putting small scale fishers first, securing cyprus’ coastal waters for sustainable fishing

Oceana conducted an analysis to identify apparent bottom trawling in the waters of the Republic of Cyprus, excluding those territorial waters that are not under the effective control of the government. Using data from the Global Fishing Watch1 (GFW) mapping platform, Oceana analysed apparent fishing activity from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2025. The … Read more

Creating an exclusive coastal zone for small-scale fishers would bring minimal costs but maximum gains for marine life, fishers, and the blue economy in Cyprus, says Oceana

44 countries worldwide have created such exclusive zones for small-scale fishers, which have proven to work in protecting the livelihoods of fishing communities Nicosia – As the European Maritime Day kicks off today in Limassol (Cyprus), marine conservation NGO Oceana is releasing the results of a new analysis of bottom trawling in Cypriot waters. The findings reveal … Read more

Conservation organisations and scientists call on the Secretariat‑General for Fisheries to comply with its environmental obligations in marine protected areas

Marine protected areas are essential for restoring ecosystems and ensuring the sustainability of fisheries, but their effectiveness depends on proper fisheries management and enforcement Madrid – Leading marine conservation organisations and scientists have today called on the Secretariat‑General for Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) to take measures to ensure the effective protection of marine … Read more

Deep-sea ecosystems as climate refugia: a hidden lifeline for marine species

Climate change is having profound and unprecedented impacts on the ocean, causing ocean warming, acidification, and deoxygenation, among other changes. These impacts modify the environmental conditions where many marine species live, to the point where they face unprecedented stress. However, some studies highlight that deeper areas may be relatively more insulated from climate-driven changes, and … Read more

A new delay in protecting Cabrera National Park puts its biodiversity at risk

The Balearic Government postpones effective protection of the park until 2027, after proposing to safeguard nearly 600 km² to halt biodiversity loss The measure endangers everything from deep-sea corals to sharks, which still lack real conservation measures following the 2019 expansion Oceana warns of a new delay in updating the management framework of the Maritime-Terrestrial National Park of … Read more