Mediterranean contribution to the Global Conference on Oceans

23 January 2006

The Mediterranean Sea represents less than 1% of the total area covered by the world's oceans. The Sea is also known for the considerable diversity of its fauna and flora as well as for the high rate of endemism. However, approximately 30% of the international sea-borne trade volume transits through the Mediterranean Sea and it is also the world's leading tourist destination with 220 million visitors each year. All these along with 23 countries with diverse regimes make the Mediterranean a special case on the international arena. A panel to debate all these issues and the Mediterranean contribution to the Global Conference on Oceans (23-28 January, Paris) will be chaired by Aldo Cosentino (Director-General, Nature Protection, Ministry for Environment, Italy) and will take place on 26th January during the conference.

The Mediterranean can bring three examples of cooperation amongst countries.

The Mediterranean is a vulnerable ecological unit whose protection requires the joint action of its users and cooperation between North and South. In terms of governance of high seas, the Mediterranean is an emerging and unresolved sea case. More than 80% of this semi enclosed sea falls under the High seas regime. Some Mediterranean countries have recently undertaken cooperative initiatives to protect marine areas such as the Pelagos Sanctuary for Mediterranean Marine Mammals, supported by France, Monaco and Italy. The Mediterranean Sea represents an interesting and stimulating case for strengthening governance and international law in relation to oceans.

See:http://iucn.org/places/medoffice/en/en_high_seas.html

Also this year the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) - the main inter-governmental decision-making body on fishery management in the Mediterranean -decided to refrain from expanding deep water fishing operations beyond the limit of 1000 metres based on scientific considerations. This important measure was based on a comprehensive study on the status of deep sea fishing in the Mediterranean developed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and WWF. The measure has also been debated in a wide-reaching consultation process with relevant regional specialists, including the International Commission for the Scientific Exploration of the Sea (CIESM), through several workshops held over the last 18 months.

See: http://iucn.org/places/medoffice/noticias/ban_fisheries_en.html

Other area of interest is marine aquaculture. The IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation is developing in collaboration with the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA), the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) and various national organizations from Spain, Algeria and France a programme that aims to highlight the real problems that aquaculture can cause to the marine environment, and to find possible solutions in order to allow its development in a sustainable way.

See: http://iucn.org/places/medoffice/cd_aquaculture/index.html

The Mediterranean experience can bring support to global discussions on means for achieving the goals set at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to sustainably manage the sea, consistent with international laws, and based on scientific data, by 2012.

Interesting links:

Third Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands. January 23-28, 2006, UNESCO, Paris

IUCN Global Marine Programme

For further information, please contact François Simard.