Despite being considered one of the planet’s most important areas for marine biodiversity, the Mediterranean (2,500,000km2) is practically in the same state as the rest of the world’s seas and currently only 4% of its area is protected. After analyzing the existing data Oceana has launched Oceana MedNet, the first comprehensive network of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) for the Mediterranean that details specific locations. The proposal includes 100 sites distributed throughout the basin, covering an extension of over 200,000 km2. By adding this area to the existing MPAs, 12% of the Mediterranean would be protected, exceeding the minimum established by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The proposal includes a wide variety of sites, such as seamounts, banks, canyons, slopes, trenches, ridges, mud volcanoes, gas seeps, carbonate mounts, etc. Although these habitats are less well-known than seagrass beds or coral reefs, they are equally important. The CBD considers that the proposed sites are important enough from a biological and ecological perspective, and that they require effective protection.

More info:

PRESS RELEASE: Oceana unveils MedNet, the most comprehensive proposal for MPAs in the Mediterranean

    REPORT:

    A complementary approach for the Mediterranean N2000 in open and deep sea (PDF) English

  REPORT:

    MPA Network Proposal for the Mediterranean Sea (PDF) English

    Proposition de réseau d’AMP en mer Méditerranée (PDF) Français

   Fact Sheet – Oceana MedNet. 100 reasons to reach 10% target (PDF)

    English / Français

    Español

  Fact Sheet – Oceana MedNet II. (PDF)

    30 jewels of the Mediterranean Sea . English

    30 joyaux de la mer Méditerranée – Français

    30 joyas del mar Mediterráneo – Español

     Oceana MedNet. Proposal for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea. 100 reasons to reach 10% (PDF) – English