* TRANSBOUNDARY DIAGNOSTIC ANALYSIS (TDA) FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA Contents Contents -10 List of tables -7 List of figures -6 Acronyms and abbreviations -4 FOREWORD 0 i. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i i.1 TDA content and process i i.2 Mediterranean Sea environmental status and its major transboundary issues iii i.3 Environmental Quality Objectives xiv i.4 Priority actions and interventions for NAPs / SAP MED xiv Contents INTRODUCTION 1 1.0 THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION 3 1.1 Environmental characteristics 4 1.1.1 Geographic setting and climate 4 1.1.2 The hydrological system 6 1.1.3 Biological diversity 9 1.1.4 Natural resources 11 1.2 Socio-economic aspects 11 1.2.1 Demography and human settlements 11 1.2.2 Industrial activity and trade 13 1.2.3 Agriculture and fisheries 13 1.2.4 Tourism 14 2.0 MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS 17 2.1 Decline of biodiversity 17 2.1.1 Transboundary elements 18 2.1.2 Environmental impacts 18 2.1.3 Socio-economic impacts 20 2.1.4 Causal Chain Analysis 20 » -10 » 2.1.5 Supporting data 20 2.1.5.1 Exploitation of living marine resources 21 2.1.5.2 Degradation and conversion of critical habitats 21 2.1.5.3 Pollution 26 2.1.5.4 Introduction and invasion of alien species 39 2.1.5.5 Destruction of habitats by fishing pressure 41 2.2 Decline in fisheries 41 2.2.1 Transboundary aspects 42 2.2.2 Environmental impacts 43 2.2.3 Socio-economic impacts 43 2.2.4 Causal Chain Analysis 44 2.2.5 Supporting data 46 2.2.5.1 State of the resources 46 2.2.5.2 Interactions of fishing with non-commercial resources 47 2.2.5.3 Eutrophication 47 2.2.5.4 Interaction of mariculture with fisheries 47 2.2.5.5 Overall characteristics of the Mediterranean fishing sector 49 2.3 Decline of seawater quality 51 2.3.1 Transboundary elements 51 2.3.2 Transboundary source-receptor relationships in PAHs deposition 52 2.3.3 Environmental impacts 53 2.3.4 Socio-economic impacts 53 2.3.5 Causal Chain Analysis 54 2.3.6 Supporting data 56 Contents 2.3.6.1 Eutrophication 56 2.3.6.2 Heavy metals 62 2.3.6.3 Persistent toxic substances 71 2.3.6.4 Pollution hot spots 80 2.4 Human health risks 82 2.4.1 Transboundary elements 82 2.4.2 Environmental impacts 83 2.4.3 Socio-economic impacts 83 2.4.4 Causal Chain Analysis 83 2.4.5 Supporting data 85 2.4.5.1 Chemical contamination 85 2.4.5.2 Microbiological pollution 93 3.0 LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ANALYSIS 101 3.1 Major problems identified with legal and institutional frameworks in the Mediterranean 101 3.1.1 Major problems identified with legal arrangements for addressing transboundary environemental issues 101 3.1.1.1 Issues at the national level 102 3.1.1.2 Issues at the regional level 102 3.1.2 Major problems identified with institutional arrangements and capacity for addressing transboundary environmental issues 103 3.2 Existing legal and policy frameworks in the Mediterranean 103 3.2.1 The Barcelona system 103 -9 » » 3.2.2 Euro-Mediterranean Partnership 105 3.2.3 Regional protocol and policy instruments related to the Barcelona Convention 105 3.2.3.1 Pollution 105 3.2.3.2 Conservation of biodiversity 112 3.2.3.3 Fisheries 116 4.0 STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS 121 4.1 Mediterranean stakeholders 121 4.2 MAP civil society partners 122 4.3 Suggestions for improving cooperation with MAP civil society partners 122 5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OBJECTIVES 125 5.1 Objective 1: Reduce the impacts of land-based sources on Mediterranean marine environment and human health / The Strategic Action Programme to address pollution from land-based activities (SAP MED) 125 5.2 Objective 2: Sustainable productivity from fisheries / Code of conduct for responsible fisheries 127 5.2.1 Objectives of the Code 128 5.2.2 Relationship with other international instruments 128 5.2.3 Implementation, monitoring and updating 129 5.2.4 Special requirements of developing countries 129 5.2.5 General principles 129 Contents 5.2.6 Fisheries management 131 5.2.7 Fishing operations 133 5.2.8 Aquaculture development 136 5.2.9 Integration of fisheries into coastal area management 137 5.2.10 Post-harvest practices and trade 138 5.2.11 Fisheries research 139 5.3 Objective 3: Conserve the marine biodiversity and ecosystem / Strategic Action Programme for the Conservation of Marine and Coastal Biodiversity in the Mediterranean Region (SAP BIO) 139 5.3.1 SAP BIO Portfolio 152 6.0 REFERENCES & SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 155 Annex I Contributors to the report 165 Annex II Threatened species in the Mediterranean 168 Annex III List of regional pollution hot spots with potential risk of transboundary effects (2002) 181 Annex IV List of regional pollution sensitive areas (2002) 186 Annex V Status of signatures and ratifications to the Barcelona Convention and its protocols (09.09.2005) 188 Annex VI Overview of national and regional activities for the conservation of biodiversity 190 -8 List of tables Table i.1 Transboundary sites at risk related to Mediterranean marine biodiversity vi Table i.2 Marine and coastal sites of particular interest identified by country, with relevant actions listed vii Table i.3 Locations where sensitive ecosystems are threatened by eutrophication ix Table i.4 The 20 urban centres discharging the most BOD5 xi Table i.5 Some of the main sources of TPBs to the Mediterranean xii Table i.6 Locations where major industrial waste problems exist xiii Table i.7 Targets categorized according to Environmental Quality Objective xv Table i.8 Areas and actions for priority interventions xvi Table 1.1 Variation of species according to depth zones 10 Table 2.1 Serious eutrophication incidents in the Mediterranean 28 List of tables Table 2.2 Algal species reported to cause algal blooms in Mediterranean waters 29 Table 2.3 Differences in mean density (S.D.), mean biomass and mean individual fish weight for seagrass fish bed assemblages in marine reserves and in areas open to fishing 41 Table 2.4 Age structures of Diplodus annularis taken from a protected area (Medias Islands) and a non-protected area (Port da la Selva) 41 Table 2.5 Percentage contribution to the total biomass by different trophic groupings in Mediterranean rocky zones, protected (Meded islands) and non-protected (Tossa) 41 Table 2.6 Some shared fisheries resources in the Mediterranean 50 Table 2.7 Average dissolved nutrient concentrations in the Mediterranean rivers 60 Table 2.8 Sector-based emissions of NOx in the Mediterranean region (kton N/yr) 61 Table 2.9 Atmospheric versus riverine inputs of lead and zinc to the Mediterranean (tonnes/yr) 69 Table 2.10 Concentrations (in ng/g ww) of organochlorinated compounds in samples of fish tissues collected in the NW Mediterranean 71 Table 2.11 PTS inputs (in kg/yr) of the Rhone and Seine rivers into the sea 75 Table 2.12 Estimated distribution of TBTs in the Mediterranean Sea 77 Table 2.13 Intakes of persistent toxic substances and corresponding safety thresholds 85 Table 2.14 Pathogens and indicator organisms commonly found in raw sewage 94 Table 2.15 Cities (>50,000 and <900,000 inhabitants) without WWTP in the Mediterranean 97 Table 2.16 Bacteriological water quality in some Mediterranean rivers 99 Table 5.1 SAP MED urban environment EQOs 125 Table 5.2 SAP MED industrial development EQO’s 126 Table 5.3 SAP BIO EQOs 140 -7 List of figures Figure i.1 Flow diagram for the TDA process ii Figure i.2 Transboundary sites at risk related to Mediterranean marine biodiversity vi Figure i.3 Areas where marine protected areas have been recommended within National Action Plans viii Figure i.4 Mediterranean areas where eutrophication phenomena have been reported viii Figure i.5 Pollution hot spots in the Mediterranean Sea x Figure i.6 Ecosystems associated with highest pollutant-load hot spots xi Figure i.7 Location of major industries contributing TPBs to the Mediterranean Sea xii Figure i.8 Sources of solid waste to the marine environment xiii Figure 1.1 Mediterranean countries and their coastal regions 3 Figure 1.2 Major sub-basins of the Mediterranean Sea 6 Figure 1.3 Hydrologic boundary of the Mediterranean basin 7 Figure 1.4 A scheme of Mediterranean Sea circulation 8 Figure 1.5 Seascape biodiversity patterns in benthic invertebrates 10 Figure 1.6 Mediterranean riparian countries’ population in cities over 10,000 inhabitants population retrospective and projection from 1970 to 2025 12 List of figures Figure 2.a Causal Chain Analysis: MPPI 1: Decline of biodiversity 19 Figure 2.1 SPAMI in the Mediterranean 24 Figure 2.2 The French-Italian-Monegasque sanctuary for cetaceans 25 Figure 2.3 Areal mapping of trophic conditions of the Adriatic Sea 27 Figure 2.4 Logarithmic values of total mercury mass fraction in Mullus barbatus by year at station GOKSU in Turkish coastal waters 30 Figure 2.5 Logarithmic values of total mercury mass fraction in Mullus barbatus respectively by year at stations HMF2 and ISRTMH2 in Israeli coastal waters 30 Figure 2.6 Multi-boxplot (arranged from west to east), the total mercury concentrations in Mullus barbatus 31 Figure 2.7 PCBs in Audouin’s gull eggs 32 Figure 2.8 PCBs in Audouin’s gull eggs in the Mediterranean 32 Figure 2.9 DDTs in Audouin’s gull eggs 32 Figure 2.10 Medians of cadmium concentrations in Mytilus galloprovincialis 34 Figure 2.11 Sources of marine solid waste in each Mediterranean country 38 Figure 2.12 Number of non-native plants in the Mediterranean Sea 40 Figure 2.13 Total marine catches in mt in the Mediterranean 42 Figure 2.14 Fish and fisheries exports in million US$ from the Mediterranean 43 Figure 2.15 Fish and fisheries imports in million US$ to the Mediterranean 43 Figure 2.b Causal Chain Analysis: