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From the Levant to Gibraltar: A Regional Perspective for Marine Conservation in the Mediterranean Sea

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Abstract

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are critical to the well-being of threatened ecosystems and thus can be highly beneficial to humans, especially to those residing nearby. We explore the qualities of 117 MPAs in the Mediterranean basin and develop a taxonomy of their characteristics. We relate the spatial distribution of the MPAs to the various characteristics of the taxonomy (size, distance from shore, protection levels, management regimes, etc.) and to areas of high human impact and influence levels. To do this we use information on biogeographic regions and information from two different human influence models; one model developed for the marine environment and one covering the littoral terrestrial environment. Our analysis provides insights to planners and managers working in a regional capacity and trying to build MPA networks. Generally, current MPAs have not been established in high impact areas despite their being close to shores containing intense human activity. Decision-makers wishing to design and establish new MPAs may seek out areas of high cumulative human impacts (near the marine–terrestrial interface) or avoid them depending on marine conservation objectives, including the desire to vary types of MPAs within a network. Limitations of our analysis and methodology indicate areas for further research.

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Notes

  1. Due to the variability of MPA definitions inventories of MPAs in the Mediterranean as in the world over are highly variable. Abdulla et al. (2009) recognizes a total of 94 MPAs while a recent publication of the IUCN (Anonymous 2011) describes 750 Specially Protected Areas in the Mediterranean of which “two-thirds are marine protected areas covering approximately 97 000 km2 or roughly 4 % of the marine environment”.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Marie Curie International Reintegration Grant Program for funding this research through the Designation and Management of Marine Reserve Networks project (European Commission, FP7, Grant 268115). Also, we thank MPA managers for information on MPAs in their respective countries: Marko Pećarević (Croatia), Ruti Yahel (Israel), Patrick Schembri, Darrin Stevens and Christopher Cousin (Malta), Novak Cadjenovic (Montenegro), Leonardo Tunesi (Italy), Marta García Pérez (Spain).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

    Michelle E. Portman

  2. Geography Department, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel

    Daniel Nathan & Noam Levin

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  1. Michelle E. Portman
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  2. Daniel Nathan
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Correspondence to Michelle E. Portman.

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Portman, M.E., Nathan, D. & Levin, N. From the Levant to Gibraltar: A Regional Perspective for Marine Conservation in the Mediterranean Sea. AMBIO 41, 670–681 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-012-0298-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-012-0298-x

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