Integrated Actions to Mitigate Environmental Risks in the Mediterranean Sea

Transcription

1 Integrated Actions to Mitigate Environmental Risks in the Mediterranean Sea

2 Coastal Tourism Maritime Transport Socio-economic drivers Contribution to Gross Value Added (GVA) Fisheries and aquaculture Oil and gas

3 Coastal Tourism Maritime Transport Socio-economic drivers Contribution to Total Employment Fisheries and aquaculture Oil and gas

4 Socio-economic Coastal Tourism Maritime Transport drivers Intensity of Environmental Waste disposal Pressure (sewage and solid waste) Physical alteration of coastlines and landscapes Loss and disturbance of biodiversity Introduction of alien species Pollution: oil and its derivatives Underwater noise

5 Socio-economic Fisheries and aquaculture Oil and gas drivers Intensity of Environmental Overfishing Pressure of target species Mortality of non-target populations of fish Discharge of organic matter, antibiotics and biocides Pollution: oil and its derivatives Physical alteration of coasts and seabed

6 Results Aquaculture

7 N and P discharges lead to localized impacts in the marine environment

8 10% of non-indigenous species is attributed to aquaculture Aquaculture is considered one of the main causes for alien species occurrence in Italian seas

9 Results Fishing

10 Depletion of marine resources is a recognized problem across the Adriatic-Ionian ecoregion

11 Purse seines and trawlers remove high levels of biomass indiscriminately Loggerhead turtle is threatened mainly by trawling and volante fishing

12 Seagrass beds are negatively affected by bottom trawlers

13 Results Maritime Transport

14 Underwater noise is a growing concern, affecting communication of marine species. Discharges of oil and its derivatives represent a significant threat to marine and coastal ecosystems

15 80% of hydrocarbon pollution derives from routine shipping operations such as tanker Most washing of the oil spills are often located along the Sicilian channel The Adriatic Sea has the highest accident frequency (5 time higher than world average)

16 Introduction of harmful aquatic organisms is a matter of serious concern in the Adriatic Venice and Taranto have been identified as alien species hot spots Vessels contribute significantly (54%) to alien species occurrence in Italian seas

17 Results Coastal Tourism

18 Tourism is a significant source of pressure on natural resources and the environment

19 physical alteration of coastlines and landscapes, loss of biodiversity, changes in salinity regime...

20 also deterioration of water quality (sewage) and marine litter

21 Cruises in the Mediterranean are also a source of considerable ecological pressures The growth of cruising tourism in the eastern Adriatic is increasing threats in the region

22 Results Coastal Urbanization

23 Urbanization is mostly related to tourism development Construction activities on shore and urban development result in soil sealing

24 37% of coastal settlements operate without a wastewater treatment Urban wastewater is considered one of the most important contributors to euthrophication There is no sewage treatment in many cities on the Eastern coast of the Adriatic also a major source of heavy metals and PCBs

25 Results Climate Change

26 Climate change would have adverse impacts in the Mediterranean region Sea level rise, recurrent droughts, salt water intrusions, increase of floods and soil erosion

27 Several areas were identified potentially vulnerable to sea level rise at the Croatian coast For the Eastern Adriatic coast, more of 100 km2 of the mainland will be flooded due to sea level rise