The Mediterranean - an endangered sea

The Mediterranean Sea is home to a vast range of marine life,including rich seagrass meadows,seamounts,and trenches that reach depths of 5000 metres.The Mediterranean accounts for less than one percent of the world's oceans,but is home to nearly nine percent of all marine life,with more than ten thousand species identified so far. The Mediterranean is not just home to mammals and fish. Seagrass meadows cover a coastal fringe around the Mediterranean, and are a vital breeding and feeding ground for fish and other species. They also regulate the quality of the water by stabilising the coastline and producing oxygen - they literally breathe life into the sea. But even these life-giving plants are under threat. Trawling, dropping anchor, pollution and fish farming are all taking their toll on these undersea meadows.

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