The Mediterranean SeaThe Mediterranean Sea

By Shaun Fenech By Shaun Fenech

Form 3PForm 3P

St. Augustine’s CollegeSt. Augustine’s College

Geology Of Geology Of Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by

the Straight of Gibraltar on the west and to the Sea of the Straight of Gibraltar on the west and to the Sea of

Marmara and the Black sea, by the Dardanelles and the Marmara and the Black sea, by the Dardanelles and the

Bosporus respectively, on the east.Bosporus respectively, on the east.

The Sea of Marmara is often considered a part of the The Sea of Marmara is often considered a part of the

Mediterranean Sea, whereas the Black Sea is generally not. Mediterranean Sea, whereas the Black Sea is generally not.

The 163 km long man-made Suez Canal in the southeast The 163 km long man-made Suez Canal in the southeast

connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

(Mediterranean Sea, 2008). (Mediterranean Sea, 2008).

Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea

  (Composite satellite image of the Mediterranean Sea, Wikipedia encyclopedia)

Urbanisation and tourismUrbanisation and tourism

The 150 million people living along the The 150 million people living along the

Mediterranean coast produce 3.8 billion cubic Mediterranean coast produce 3.8 billion cubic metres of wastewater each year.metres of wastewater each year.

A further 2.5 million cubic metres are produced by A further 2.5 million cubic metres are produced by the 220 million tourists visiting the Mediterranean the 220 million tourists visiting the Mediterranean region every year. The above figures are a rapidly region every year. The above figures are a rapidly increasing trend.increasing trend.

80% of the urban sewage produced is discharged 80% of the urban sewage produced is discharged

untreated. Added to that are agricultural runoffs untreated. Added to that are agricultural runoffs containing pesticides, nitrates and phosphates containing pesticides, nitrates and phosphates which contaminate the Mediterranean Sea.which contaminate the Mediterranean Sea.

(Marine environment: the Mediterranean sea and its (Marine environment: the Mediterranean sea and its coasts, 2007).coasts, 2007).

Oil PollutionOil Pollution

Every year 600,000 tons of crude oil are deliberately Every year 600,000 tons of crude oil are deliberately released into the sea from shipping activities. released into the sea from shipping activities.

The oil shipping industry is a major pollutant threat to the The oil shipping industry is a major pollutant threat to the Mediterranean Sea due to the vast traffic of oil tankers Mediterranean Sea due to the vast traffic of oil tankers shipments.shipments.

One example of a catastrophic event One example of a catastrophic event is the Erika oil tanker crisis in France is the Erika oil tanker crisis in France in 1999. It is estimated that when the in 1999. It is estimated that when the Erika broke up it spilled about half of Erika broke up it spilled about half of her load (12,000 to 15,000her load (12,000 to 15,000 tonnes tonnes) of ) of heavy crude oil into heavy seas some heavy crude oil into heavy seas some 40 nautical miles off southern 40 nautical miles off southern Brittany. Brittany. (Commission of European (Commission of European Communities, 2000)Communities, 2000)

The ecological catastrophe The ecological catastrophe caused by Erika’s oil spill is caused by Erika’s oil spill is documented as the worst ever documented as the worst ever in terms of seabird mortality. At in terms of seabird mortality. At the time of the incident many the time of the incident many northern birds winter off the northern birds winter off the French Biscay Coast. French Biscay Coast.

In large pools of oil the birds In large pools of oil the birds became coated in thick black oil became coated in thick black oil and unable to fly; they quickly and unable to fly; they quickly perish from poisoning or perish from poisoning or drowning. About 90% of the drowning. About 90% of the dead birds were Guillemots, dead birds were Guillemots, Gannets and Puffins. (Mustoe S, Gannets and Puffins. (Mustoe S,

The Erika Oil Spill.)The Erika Oil Spill.)

Source http://www.itopf.com/erika.html

Over FishingOver Fishing

Around 1.5 million tonnes of fish are caught in the Around 1.5 million tonnes of fish are caught in the Mediterranean each year. Destructive and often illegal Mediterranean each year. Destructive and often illegal fishing methods, including bottom trawlers, dynamite, fishing methods, including bottom trawlers, dynamite, long lines, and drift nets have depleted fish stocks.long lines, and drift nets have depleted fish stocks. Use of drift nets are also responsible for the accidental Use of drift nets are also responsible for the accidental deaths and for incidental catches of flagship species deaths and for incidental catches of flagship species such as cetaceans and marine turtles. such as cetaceans and marine turtles.

Depleted fish stocks are also reflected in the undersized Depleted fish stocks are also reflected in the undersized catch. 83% of all blue-fin tuna and swordfish caught in catch. 83% of all blue-fin tuna and swordfish caught in the Mediterranean sea are undersizedthe Mediterranean sea are undersized. (Marine environment: the Mediterranean sea and its (Marine environment: the Mediterranean sea and its coasts, 2007).coasts, 2007).

The Mediterranean The Mediterranean hosts several endangered hosts several endangered marine species.marine species.

The Mediterranean Monk sealThe Mediterranean Monk seal (Monachus monachus), of (Monachus monachus), of which about 350 – 400 now which about 350 – 400 now survive in the world.survive in the world.

In the summer of 1997, two thirds In the summer of 1997, two thirds of the largest surviving single of the largest surviving single population of Mediterranean monk population of Mediterranean monk seals (the one in Cabo Blanco) seals (the one in Cabo Blanco) were wiped out within the space of were wiped out within the space of two months, extremely two months, extremely compromising the species‘ viable compromising the species‘ viable

population.population. (The Monk seal, 2008)

Damage inflicted upon fishermen's nets and rare attacks on off-shore fish farms in Turkey and Greece are known to have pushed local people towards hunting the Mediterranean monk seal, but mostly out of revenge rather

than population control.

The loggerhead The loggerhead turtleturtle

The 100 – million year old The 100 – million year old loggerhead turtle (Caretta loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), nests on caretta), nests on Mediterranean beaches.Mediterranean beaches.

Loggerhead Sea Turtles were once Loggerhead Sea Turtles were once intensively hunted for their meat and intensively hunted for their meat and eggs, along with their fat which was eggs, along with their fat which was used in cosmetics and medication. used in cosmetics and medication. The Loggerhead Sea Turtles were The Loggerhead Sea Turtles were also killed for their shells, which are also killed for their shells, which are used to make items such as combs. used to make items such as combs. As a result both subspecies are now As a result both subspecies are now internationally protected. (The Logger internationally protected. (The Logger Head turtle, 2008)Head turtle, 2008)

The Pilot whale, the Fin whale and the The Pilot whale, the Fin whale and the Sperm whaleSperm whale

Pilot Whale

The Pilot Whale has traditionally been killed by whalers by the process of "driving" - where many fishermen and boats surround a school of whales and slowly force them to shore, killing them. This practice was common in both the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, declining only in the 1990s. In the 1980s around 2,500 individuals were killed each year in this manner. (Wikipedia, 2008)

Like all other large whales, the Fin Like all other large whales, the Fin

Whale and the Sperm whales were Whale and the Sperm whales were

heavily hunted during the heavily hunted during the

twentieth century and is an twentieth century and is an

endangered species. The endangered species. The

International Whaling Commission International Whaling Commission

(IWC) has issued a moratorium on (IWC) has issued a moratorium on

commercial hunting of this whale, commercial hunting of this whale,

although Iceland and Japan have although Iceland and Japan have

announced intentions to resume announced intentions to resume

hunting, the latter country stating hunting, the latter country stating

it will kill a quota of 50 whales for it will kill a quota of 50 whales for

the 2008 season. Collisions with the 2008 season. Collisions with

ships and noise from human ships and noise from human

activity are also significant threats activity are also significant threats

to the recovery of the species.to the recovery of the species.

Fin Whale

Sperm Whale

The Common Dolphin, Striped Dolphin, The Common Dolphin, Striped Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin and the Risso’s DolphinBottlenose Dolphin and the Risso’s Dolphin

Dolphins face a mixture of threats due to human influence. Populations have been hunted off the coast for use as food and shark bait. In most other areas the dolphins have not been hunted directly. Several thousand individuals have been caught in industrial trawler nets throughout their range. Common dolphins were abundant in the western Mediterranean Sea until the 1960s but occurrences there have tailed off rapidly. The reasons are not well understood but are believed to be due to extensive human activity in the area.

Common dolphin

Risso’s Dolphin

Bottlenose dolphin

Striped Dolphin

Blue Fin TunaBlue Fin Tuna

One of the most endangered fish.One of the most endangered fish.

Blue fin tuna populations have declined alarmingly over the past Blue fin tuna populations have declined alarmingly over the past few decades - not just Atlantic blue fin tuna, but also Pacific blue fin few decades - not just Atlantic blue fin tuna, but also Pacific blue fin tuna and southern blue fin tuna. (Bluefin tuna in crisis, 2008)tuna and southern blue fin tuna. (Bluefin tuna in crisis, 2008)

ConclusionConclusion

• The Mediterranean Sea interacts humans and nature together.The Mediterranean Sea interacts humans and nature together.

• Humans with all their actions, throughout history, especially from the Humans with all their actions, throughout history, especially from the

Industrial Revolution onwards, have been the cause of most major Industrial Revolution onwards, have been the cause of most major

threats to the Mediterranean Sea.threats to the Mediterranean Sea.

• Now every living organism that habitats this wonderful sea has to face Now every living organism that habitats this wonderful sea has to face

the consequences of humans’ irresponsible ways of life.the consequences of humans’ irresponsible ways of life.

• We must listen to the voice of mother nature that has long been calling We must listen to the voice of mother nature that has long been calling

on our attention to stop threatening our planet; stop damaging our on our attention to stop threatening our planet; stop damaging our

environment.environment.

• If we do not stop and change this aggressive destructive behavior, If we do not stop and change this aggressive destructive behavior,

what future are we preserving to our children and future generations?what future are we preserving to our children and future generations?

ReferencesReferences Mediterranean Sea, 2008.Mediterranean Sea, 2008. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_seahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_sea

Marine environment: the Mediterranean Sea and its coasts, 2007.Marine environment: the Mediterranean Sea and its coasts, 2007. WWF for a living planet WWF for a living planet http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/euro http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/euro

ewhat_we_do/mediterranean/about/marine/index.cfmewhat_we_do/mediterranean/about/marine/index.cfm

Commission of European Communities, Brussels. 2000Commission of European Communities, Brussels. 2000 http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/energy_transport/library/com142-en.pdfhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/energy_transport/library/com142-en.pdf

Mustoe, S., Australia. The Erika Oil Spill.Mustoe, S., Australia. The Erika Oil Spill. http://www.orcaweb.org.uk/downloads/Erikaoilspill.dochttp://www.orcaweb.org.uk/downloads/Erikaoilspill.doc

Marine environment: the Mediterranean sea and its coasts, 2007Marine environment: the Mediterranean sea and its coasts, 2007http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/europe/what_we_do/mediterranean/about/marine/http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/europe/what_we_do/mediterranean/about/marine/

index.cfmindex.cfm

The Monk seal, 2008The Logger Head turtle, 2008The Logger Head turtle, 2008The Pilot whale, the Fin whale and the Sperm whaleThe Pilot whale, the Fin whale and the Sperm whaleThe Common Dolphin, Striped Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin and the Risso’s DolphinThe Common Dolphin, Striped Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin and the Risso’s Dolphinhttp://www.wikipedia.org/http://www.wikipedia.org/