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Global warming will bring an
increase seawater temperature, changes to biodiversity, coastal
erosion, and changes to salinity and currents. Sea level rise for the
next century (2100) could be between 30 and 100 cm. Temperature shifts
of 0.05-0.1˙C in the deep sea are sufficient to induce significant
changes in species richness and functional diversity.
Indirect impacts may affect tourism due to temperature rise and the demand for desalinised water sourced from the Mediterranean Sea may increase due to drought, creating localised areas of higher salt content.
Although the Mediterranean region will suffer from severe climate change impacts, the area can also represent a major part of the solution. There is huge renewable energy potential in Mediterranean countries, especially solar energy, and most of this potential is untapped. If Mediterranean countries commit to developing their renewable energy potential, climate change impacts on the sea and region can be reduced and the region can contribute to the global solution.
The intentional release of new species can occur as a result of species being brought into an area (for example to establish aquaculture or for aquariums), and subsequently spreading into the surrounding waters. An example of this is the growth of the tropical alga Caulerpa taxifolia, from its original introduction site at the Monaco Aquarium to covering over 40 million square meters of coastal Mediterranean.
The accidental release of a species is often through shipping activity, hitching a ride in ballast water or as hull fouling. The North American comb jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi was introduced to the Black Sea through ships’ ballast, and reached an estimated total biomass exceeding the world’s total annual fish landings, exacerbating the over-fishing already damaging the ecosystem and contributing to the near collapse of Black Sea fisheries.
Indirect impacts may affect tourism due to temperature rise and the demand for desalinised water sourced from the Mediterranean Sea may increase due to drought, creating localised areas of higher salt content.
Although the Mediterranean region will suffer from severe climate change impacts, the area can also represent a major part of the solution. There is huge renewable energy potential in Mediterranean countries, especially solar energy, and most of this potential is untapped. If Mediterranean countries commit to developing their renewable energy potential, climate change impacts on the sea and region can be reduced and the region can contribute to the global solution.
Introduced Species
Introduced or “alien” species can have serious impacts in the marine environment, competing with native species for food and for space, and altering the structure of communities and habitats.The intentional release of new species can occur as a result of species being brought into an area (for example to establish aquaculture or for aquariums), and subsequently spreading into the surrounding waters. An example of this is the growth of the tropical alga Caulerpa taxifolia, from its original introduction site at the Monaco Aquarium to covering over 40 million square meters of coastal Mediterranean.
The accidental release of a species is often through shipping activity, hitching a ride in ballast water or as hull fouling. The North American comb jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi was introduced to the Black Sea through ships’ ballast, and reached an estimated total biomass exceeding the world’s total annual fish landings, exacerbating the over-fishing already damaging the ecosystem and contributing to the near collapse of Black Sea fisheries.