"Mediterranean" redirects here. For other uses see Mediterranean (disambiguation). "Mediterranean sea" redirects here. For the oceanographical term see Mediterranean sea (oceanography). Mediterranean Sea Composite satellite image of the Mediterranean Sea Coordinates 35N 18E / 35N 18E / 35; 18Coordinates: 35N 18E / 35N 18E / 35; 18 Basin countries Algeria Cyprus Egypt France Greece Italy Libya Malta Morocco Spain Tunisia Turkey Lebanon Israel Syria Surface area 2500000 km2 (970000 sq mi) Average depth 1500 m (4900 ft) Max depth 5267 m (17280 ft) Residence time (of Ocean water) 80-100 years1 Islands 3300+

The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe on the south by North Africa and on the east by the Levant. The sea is technically a part of the Atlantic Ocean although it is usually identified as a completely separate body of water.

The name Mediterranean is derived from the Latin mediterraneus meaning "inland" or "in the middle of the earth" (from medius "middle" and terra "earth"). It covers an approximate area of 2.5 million km (965000 sq mi) but its connection to the Atlantic (the Strait of Gibraltar) is only 14 km (8.7 mi) wide. In oceanography it is sometimes called the Eurafrican Mediterranean Sea or the European Mediterranean Sea to distinguish it from mediterranean seas elsewhere.23

The Mediterranean Sea has an average depth of 1500 m (4900 ft) and the deepest recorded point is 5267 m (17280 ft) in the Calypso Deep in the Ionian Sea.

It was an important route for merchants and travelers of ancient times that allowed for trade and cultural exchange between emergent peoples of the region the Mesopotamian Egyptian Phoenician Carthaginian Iberian Greek Macedonian Illyrian Thracian Levantine Gallic Roman Albanian Armenian Arabic Berber Jewish Slavic and Turkish cultures. The history of the Mediterranean region is crucial to understanding the origins and development of many modern societies. "For the three quarters of the globe the Mediterranean Sea is similarly the uniting element and the centre of World History."4 Contents 1 Name 2 History 3 Geography 3.1 Extent 3.2 Oceanography 3.3 Bordering countries 3.4 Subdivisions 3.4.1 Other seas 3.4.2 Other features 3.5 10 Major islands 3.6 Climate 4 Geology 4.1 Tectonic evolution 4.1.1 Eastern Mediterranean 4.1.2 Central Mediterranean 4.1.3 Western Mediterranean 4.2 Paleoenvironmental analysis 5 Paleoclimate 6 Ecology and biota 7 Environmental threats 7.1 Biodiversity 7.1.1 Invasive species 7.1.2 Arrival of new tropical Atlantic species 7.2 Sea-level rise 7.3 Pollution 7.4 Shipping 7.5 Tourism 7.6 Overfishing 7.7 Aquaculture 8 See also 9 References 10 Further reading 11 External links Name

The term Mediterranean derives from the Latin word mediterraneus meaning "in the middle of earth" or "between lands" (medius "middle between" + terra "land earth"). This is on account of the sea's intermediary position between the continents of Africa and Europe. The Greek name Mesogeios () is similarly from "middle" + "land earth").5

The Mediterranean Sea has been known by a number of alternative names throughout human history. For example the Romans commonly called it Mare Nostrum (Latin "Our Sea") and occasionally Mare Internum (Sallust Jug. 17).

In the Bible it was primarily known as the "Great Sea" (Num. 34:67; Josh. 1:4 9:1 15:47; Ezek. 47:101520) or simply "The Sea" (1 Kings 5:9; comp. 1 Macc. 14:34 15:11); however it has also been called the "Hinder Sea" due to its location on the west coast of the Holy Land and therefore behind a person facing the east as referenced in the Old Testament sometimes translated as "Western Sea" (Deut. 11:24; Joel 2:20). Another name was the "Sea of the Philistines" (Exod. 23:31) from the people occupying a large portion of its shores near the Israelites.

In Modern Hebrew it has been called HaYyam HaTtikhon ( ) "the middle sea" a literal adaptation of the German equivalent Mittelmeer.citation needed In Turkish it is known as Akdeniz "the white sea". In modern Arabic it is known as al-Bar al-Abya al-Mutawassi ( ) "the White Middle Sea" while in Islamic and older Arabic literature it was referenced as Bar al-Rm ( ) or "the Roman/Byzantine Sea." History Main article: History of the Mediterranean region The Holy League naval victory of the Battle of Lepanto 1571 the last battle to be fought primarily between galleys

As a sea around which some of the most ancient human civilisations were arranged it has had a major influence on the history and ways of life of these cultures. It provided a way of trade colonisation and war and was the basis of life (via fishing and the gathering of other seafood) for numerous communities throughout the ages. The combination of similarly shared climate geology and access to a common sea has led to numerous historical and cultural connections between the ancient and modern societies around the Mediterranean. Two of the most notable Mediterranean civilisations in classical antiquity were the Greek city states and the Phoenicians. When Augustus founded the Roman Empire the Mediterranean sea began to be called Mare Nostrum (literally:"Our Sea") by the Romans. The empire began to crumble however in the fifth century and Rome collapsed after 476 AD. Temporarily the east was again dominant as the Byzantine Empire formed from the eastern half of the Roman one. Another power was rising in the east that of Islam. At its greatest extent the Arab Empire controlled 3/4 of the Mediterranean region. Europe was reviving however as more organized and centralised states began to form in the later Middle Ages after the Renaissance of the 12th century. Ottoman power continued to grow and in 1453 the Byzantine Empire was extinguished with the fall of Constantinople. The growing naval prowess of the European powers confronted further rapid Ottoman expansion in the region when the Battle of Lepanto checked the power of the Ottoman navy. The development of oceanic shipping began to affect the entire Mediterranean however. While once all trade from the east had passed through the region the circumnavigation of Africa allowed spices and other goods to be imported directly to the Atlantic ports of western Europe. Geography A satellite image taken from the side of the Strait of Gibraltar. At left Europe; at right Africa Dardananelles. North side is Gelibolu Peninsula-Europe South side is Asia. The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Strait of Gibraltar on the west and to the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea by the Dardanelles and the Bosporus respectively on the east. The Sea of Marmara is often considered a part of the Mediterranean Sea whereas the Black Sea is generally not. The 163 km (101 mi) long man-made Suez Canal in the southeast connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. Large islands in the Mediterranean include Cyprus Crete Euboea Rhodes Lesbos Chios Kefalonia Corfu Naxos and Andros in the eastern Mediterranean; Sardinia Corsica Sicily Cres Krk Bra Hvar Pag Korula and Malta in the central Mediterranean; and Ibiza Majorca and Minorca (the Balearic Islands) in the western Mediterranean. The climate is a typical Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild rainy winters. Crops of the region include olives grapes oranges tangerines and cork. Extent The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Mediterranean Sea as follows:6 The Mediterranean Sea is bounded by the coasts of Europe Africa and Asia from the Strait of Gibraltar on the West to the entrances to the Dardanelles and the Suez Canal on the East. It is divided into two deep basins as follows: Western Basin On the West. A line joining the extremities of Cape Trafalgar (Spain) and Cape Spartel (Africa). On the Northeast. The West Coast of Italy. In the Strait of Messina a line joining the North extreme of Cape Paci (1542'E) with Cape Peloro the East extreme of the Island of Sicily. The North Coast of Sicily. On the East. A line joining Cape Lilibeo the Western point of Sicily (3747N 1222E / 37.783N 12.367E / 37.783; 12.367) through the Adventure Bank to Cape Bon (Tunisia). Eastern Basin On the West. The Northeastern and Eastern limits of the Western Basin. On the Northeast. A line joining Kum Kale (2611'E) and Cape Helles the Western entrance to the Dardanelles. On the Southeast. The entrance to the Suez Canal. On the East. The coasts of Syria and Palestine. (It should be noted that the coast referred to as belonging to Palestine in this document dating to 1953 has been within the internationally recognised borders of the country known as Israel since 1948. Of the territories administered by the Palestinian Authority only the Gaza Strip has a sea coast.) Oceanography Predominant currents for June Being nearly landlocked affects the Mediterranean Sea's properties; for instance tides are very limited as a result of the narrow connection with the Atlantic Ocean. The Mediterranean is characterized and immediately recognised by its deep blue colour. Evaporation greatly exceeds precipitation and river runoff in the Mediterranean a fact that is central to the water circulation within the basin.7 Evaporation is especially high in its eastern half causing the water level to decrease and salinity to increase eastward.8 This pressure gradient pushes relatively cool low-salinity water from the Atlantic across the basin; it warms and becomes saltier as it travels east then sinks in the region of the Levant and circulates westward to spill over the Strait of Gibraltar.9 Thus seawater flow is eastward in the Strait's surface waters and westward below; once in the Atlantic this chemically distinct "Mediterranean Intermediate Water" can persist thousands of kilometres away from its source.10 Bordering countries Map of the Mediterranean Sea Twenty-one modern states have a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. They are: Europe (from west to east):  Spain  France  Monaco  Italy  Malta  Slovenia  Croatia  Bosnia and Herzegovina  Montenegro  Albania  Greece and  Turkey (East Thrace) Asia (from north to south):  Turkey (Anatolia)  Cyprus  Syria  Lebanon  Israel  Egypt (the Sinai Peninsula) Africa (from east to west):  Egypt  Libya  Tunisia  Algeria and  Morocco Turkey and Egypt are transcontinental countries. The southernmost islands of Italy the Pelagie islands are geologically part of the African continent. Several other territories also border the Mediterranean Sea (from west to east): British overseas territory of Gibraltar Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla and nearby islands British sovereign base area of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Turkish territory of Northern Cyprus (disputed) Gaza Strip of the Palestinian Territories Andorra Jordan Portugal San Marino the Vatican City Macedonia and Serbia1112 although they do not border the sea are often considered Mediterranean countries in a wider sense due to their Mediterranean climate fauna and flora and/or their cultural affinity with other Mediterranean countries. Capital cities of sovereign countries and major cities with populations larger than 200000 people bordering the Mediterranean Sea are: Mlaga Cartagena Alicante Valencia Palma Barcelona Marseille Nice Monaco Genoa Rome Naples Palermo Catania Messina Valletta Taranto Bari Venice Trieste Split Durrs Patras Athens Thessaloniki Istanbul Izmir Antalya Mersin Tarsus Adana Lattakia Tripoli (Lebanon) Beirut Haifa Tel Aviv Ashdod Gaza Port Said Damietta Alexandria Benghazi Tripoli (Libya) Sfax Tunis Annaba Algiers and Oran. Subdivisions According to the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) the Mediterranean Sea is subdivided into a number of smaller waterbodies each with their own designation (from west to east):6 Map of the Mediterranean Sea showing the subdivisions of the IHO and some others. The two biggest islands of the Med Sicily and Sardinia Panoramic view of Cavtat Croatia Burj Islam Beach Latakia Syria A view of Raouch off the coast of Beirut Lebanon View of the Cinque Terre Mediterranean shoreline Italy A view across the ldeniz Turkey Rocky coast of Darnah Libya Old city of Ibiza Town Spain Egremni beach of Lefkada Greece Europa Point Gibraltar (UK) the Strait of Gibraltar; the Alboran Sea between Spain and Morocco; the Balearic Sea between mainland Spain and its Balearic Islands; the Ligurian Sea between Corsica and Liguria (Italy); the Tyrrhenian Sea enclosed by Sardinia Italian peninsula and Sicily; the Ionian Sea between Italy Albania and Greece; the Adriatic Sea between Italy Slovenia Croatia Bosnia and Herzegovina Montenegro and Albania; the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey. Other seas Although not recognised by the IHO treaties there are some other seas whose names have been in common use from the ancient times or in the present: the Catalan Sea between Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands as a part of the Balearic Sea the Sea of Sardinia between Sardinia and Balearic Islands as a part of the Balearic Sea the Sea of Sicily between Sicily and Tunisia the Libyan Sea between Libya and Crete In the Aegean Sea the Thracian Sea in its north the Myrtoan Sea between the Cyclades and the Peloponnese the Sea of Crete north of Crete the Icarian Sea between Kos and Chios the Cilician Sea between Turkey and Cyprus the Levantine Sea at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Other features Many of these smaller seas feature in local myth and folklore and derive their names from these associations. In addition to the seas a number of gulfs and straits are also recognised: the Saint George Bay in Beirut Lebanon the Ras Ibn Hani cape in Latakia Syria the Ras al-Bassit cape in northern Syria. the Minet el-Beida ("White Harbour") bay near ancient Ugarit Syria the Strait of Gibraltar connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Spain from Morocco the Bay of Gibraltar at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula the Gulf of Corinth an enclosed sea between the Ionian Sea and the Corinth Canal the Pagasetic Gulf the gulf of Volos south of the Thermaic Gulf formed by the Mount Pelion peninsula the Saronic Gulf the gulf of Athens between the Corinth Canal and the Mirtoan Sea the Thermaic Gulf the gulf of Thessaloniki located in the northern Greek region of Macedonia the Kvarner Gulf Croatia the Gulf of Lion south of France the Gulf of Valencia east of Spain the Strait of Messina between Sicily and the toe of Italy the Gulf of Genoa northwestern Italy the Gulf of Venice northeastern Italy the Gulf of Trieste northeastern Italy the Gulf of Taranto southern Italy the Gulf of Salerno southwestern Italy the Gulf of Gaeta southwestern Italy the Gulf of Squillace southern Italy the Strait of Otranto between Italy and Albania the Gulf of Haifa between Haifa and Akko Israel the Gulf of Sidra between Tunisia and Cyrenaica (eastern Libya) the Strait of Sicily between Sicily and Tunisia the Corsica Channel between Corsica and Italy the Strait of Bonifacio between Sardinia and Corsica the Gulf of skenderun between skenderun and Adana (Turkey) the Gulf of Antalya between west and east shores of Antalya (Turkey) the Bay of Kotor in south-western Montenegro and south-eastern Croatia the Malta Channel between Sicily and Malta 10 Major islands Main article: List of islands in the Mediterranean Country Island Area in km Population Italy Sicily 25460 5048995 Italy Sardinia 24090 1672804 Cyprus Cyprus 9248 1088503 France Corsica 8680 299209 Greece Crete 8336 623666 Greece Euboea 3684 218032 Spain Majorca 3640 869067 Greece Lesbos 1632 90643 Greece Rhodes 1400 117007 Greece Chios 842 51936 Climate Sea temperature (C) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Marseille 3 13 13 13 14 16 18 21 22 21 18 16 14 Barcelona 4 13 13 13 14 17 20 23 25 23 20 17 15 Valencia 5 14 13 14 15 17 21 24 26 24 21 18 15 Naples 6 15 14 14 15 18 22 25 27 25 22 19 16 Malaga 7 16 15 15 16 17 20 22 23 22 20 18 16 Gibraltar 8 16 15 16 16 17 20 22 22 22 20 18 17 Athens 9 16 15 15 16 18 21 24 24 24 21 19 17 Heraklion 10 16 15 15 16 19 22 24 25 24 22 20 18 Malta 11 16 16 15 16 18 21 24 26 25 23 21 18 Paphos 12 18 17 17 18 20 24 26 27 26 24 22 19 Larnaca 13 18 17 17 18 20 24 26 27 27 25 22 19 Limassol 14 18 17 17 18 20 24 26 27 27 25 22 19 Alexandria 15 18 17 17 18 20 23 25 26 26 25 22 20 Tel Aviv 16 18 17 17 18 21 24 26 28 27 26 23 20 Geology This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2009) See also: Geology and paleoclimatology of the Mediterranean Basin The geologic history of the Mediterranean is complex. It was involved in the tectonic break-up and then collision of the African and Eurasian plates. The Messinian Salinity Crisis occurred in the late Miocene (12 million years ago to 5 million years ago) when the Mediterranean dried up. Geologically the Mediterranean is underlain by oceanic crust. The Mediterranean Sea has an average depth of 1500 m (4900 ft) and the deepest recorded point is 5267 m (17280 ft) in the Calypso Deep in the Ionian Sea. The coastline extends for 46000 km (29000 mi). A shallow submarine ridge (the Strait of Sicily) between the island of Sicily and the coast of Tunisia divides the sea in two main subregions (which in turn are divided into subdivisions) the Western Mediterranean and the Eastern Mediterranean. The Western Mediterranean covers an area of about 0.85 million km (0.33 million mi) and the Eastern Mediterranean about 1.65 million km (0.64 million mi). Tectonic evolution The geodynamic evolution of the Mediterranean Sea was provided by the convergence of European and African plates. This process was driven by the differential spreading along the Atlantic ridge which led to the closure of the Tethys Ocean and eventually to the Alpine orogenesis. However the Mediterranean also hosts wide extensional basins and migrating tectonic arcs in response to its land-locked configuration. According to a report published by Nature in 2009 scientists think that the Mediterranean Sea was mostly filled during a time period of less than two years in a major flood (the Zanclean flood) that happened approximately 5.33 million years ago in which water poured in from the Atlantic Ocean and through the Strait of Gibraltar at a rate three times the current flow of the Amazon River.13 Eastern Mediterranean In middle Miocene times the collision between the Arabian microplate and Eurasia led to the separation between the Tethys and the Indian oceans. This process resulted in profound changes in the oceanic circulation patterns which shifted global climates towards colder conditions. The Hellenic arc which has a land-locked configuration underwent a widespread extension for the last 20 Myr due to a slab roll-back process. In addition the Hellenic Arc experienced a rapid rotation phase during the Pleistocene with a counterclockwise component in its eastern portion and a clockwise trend in the western segment. Central Mediterranean The opening of small oceanic basins of the central Mediterranean follows a trench migration and back-arc opening process that occurred during the last 30 Myr. This phase was characterised by the anticlockwise rotation of the Corsica-Sardinia block which lasted until the Langhian (ca.16 Ma) and was in turn followed by a slab detachment along the northern African margin. Subsequently a shift of this active extentional deformation led to the opening of the Tyrrenian basin. Western Mediterranean Since Mesozoic to Tertiary times during convergence between Africa and Iberia the Betic-Rif mountain belts developed. Tectonic models for its evolution include: rapid motion of Alboran microplate subduction zone and radial extensional collapse caused by convective removal of lithospheric mantle. The development of these intramontane Betic and Rif basins led to the onset of two marine gateways which were progressively closed during the late Miocene by an interplay of tectonic and glacio-eustatic processes. Paleoenvironmental analysis Its semi-enclosed configuration makes the oceanic gateways critical in controlling circulation and environmental evolution in the Mediterranean Sea. Water circulation patterns are driven by a number of interactive factors such as climate and bathymetry which can lead to precipitation of evaporites. During late Miocene times a so-called "Messinian Salinity Crisis" (MSC hereafter) occurred which was triggered by the closure of the Atlantic gateway. Evaporites accumulated in the Red Sea Basin (late Miocene) in the Carpatian foredeep (middle Miocene) and in the whole Mediterranean area (Messinian). An accurate age estimate of the MSC5.96 Mahas recently been astronomically achieved; furthermore this event seems to have occurred synchronously. The beginning of the MSC is supposed to have been of tectonic origin; however an astronomical control (eccentricity) might also have been involved. In the Mediterranean basin diatomites are regularly found underneath the evaporite deposits thus suggesting (albeit not clearly so far) a connection between their geneses. The present-day Atlantic gateway i.e. the Strait of Gibraltar finds its origin in the early Pliocene. However two other connections between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea existed in the past: the Betic Corridor (southern Spain) and the Rifian Corridor (northern Morocco). The former closed during Tortonian times thus providing a "Tortonian Salinity Crisis" well before the MSC; the latter closed about 6 Ma allowing exchanges in the mammal fauna between Africa and Europe. Nowadays evaporation is more relevant than the water yield supplied by riverine water and precipitation so that salinity in the Mediterranean is higher than in the Atlantic. These conditions result in the outflow of warm saline Mediterranean deep water across Gibraltar which is in turn counterbalanced by an inflow of a less saline surface current of cold oceanic water. The Mediterranean was once thought to be the remnant of the Tethys Ocean. It is now known to be a structurally younger ocean basin known as Neotethys. The Neotethys formed during the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic rifting of the African and Eurasian plates. Paleoclimate Because of its latitudinal position and its land-locked configuration the Mediterranean is especially sensitive to astronomically induced climatic variations which are well documented in its sedimentary record. Since the Mediterranean is involved in the deposition of eolian dust from the Sahara during dry periods whereas riverine detrital input prevails during wet ones the Mediterranean marine sapropel-bearing sequences provide high-resolution climatic information. These data have been employed in reconstructing astronomically calibrated time scales for the last 9 Ma of the Earth's history helping to constrain the time of past Geomagnetic Reversals.14 Furthermore the exceptional accuracy of these paleoclimatic records have improved our knowledge of the Earth's orbital variations in the past. Ecology and biota As a result of the drying of the sea during the Messinian Salinity Crisis15 the marine biota of the Mediterranean are derived primarily from the Atlantic Ocean. The North Atlantic is considerably colder and more nutrient-rich than the Mediterranean and the marine life of the Mediterranean has had to adapt to its differing conditions in the five million years since the basin was reflooded. The Alboran Sea is a transition zone between the two seas containing a mix of Mediterranean and Atlantic species. The Alboran Sea has the largest population of Bottlenose Dolphins in the western Mediterranean is home to the last population of harbour porpoises in the Mediterranean and is the most important feeding grounds for Loggerhead Sea Turtles in Europe. The Alboran sea also hosts important commercial fisheries including sardines and swordfish. In 2003 the World Wildlife Fund raised concerns about the widespread drift net fishing endangering populations of dolphins turtles and other marine animals. See also: Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance Environmental threats Biodiversity Invasive species The Reticulate whipray one of species that colonised the eastern Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 created the first salt-water passage between the Mediterranean and Red Sea. The Red Sea is higher than the Eastern Mediterranean so the canal serves as a tidal strait that pours Red Sea water into the Mediterranean. The Bitter Lakes which are hyper-saline natural lakes that form part of the canal blocked the migration of Red Sea species into the Mediterranean for many decades but as the salinity of the lakes gradually equalized with that of the Red Sea the barrier to migration was removed and plants and animals from the Red Sea have begun to colonise the Eastern Mediterranean. The Red Sea is generally saltier and more nutrient-poor than the Atlantic so the Red Sea species have advantages over Atlantic species in the salty and nutrient-poor Eastern Mediterranean. Accordingly Red Sea species invade the Mediterranean biota and not vice versa; this phenomenon is known as the Lessepsian migration (after Ferdinand de Lesseps the French engineer) or Erythrean invasion. The construction of the Aswan High Dam across the Nile River in the 1960s reduced the inflow of freshwater and nutrient-rich silt from the Nile into the Eastern Mediterranean making conditions there even more like the Red Sea and worsening the impact of the invasive species. Invasive species have become a major component of the Mediterranean ecosystem and have serious impacts on the Mediterranean ecology endangering many local and endemic Mediterranean species. A first look at some groups of exotic species show that more than 70% of the non-indigenous decapods and about 63% of the exotic fishes occurring in the Mediterranean are of Indo Pacific origin16 introduced into the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. This makes the Canal as the first pathway of arrival of alien species into the Mediterranean. The impacts of some lessepsian species have proven to be considerable mainly in the Levantine basin of the Mediterranean where they are replacing native species and becoming a familiar sight. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature definition as well as Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD) and Ramsar Convention terminologies they are alien species as they are non-native (non-indigenous) to the Mediterranean Sea and they are outside their normal area of distribution which is the Indo-Pacific region. When these species succeed in establishing populations in the Mediterranean sea compete with and begin to replace native species they are Alien Invasive Species as they are an agent of change and a threat to the native biodiversity. Depending on their impact Lessepsian migrants are either alien or alien invasive species. In the context of CBD introduction" refers to the movement by human agency indirect or direct of an alien species outside of its natural range (past or present). The Suez Canal being a artificial (man made) canal is a human agency. Lessepsian migrants are therefore introduced species (indirect and unintentional). Whatever wording is chosen they represent a threat to the native Mediterranean biodiversity because they are non-indigenous to this sea. In recent years the Egyptian government's announcement of its intentions to deepen and widen the canal have raised concerns from marine biologists fearing that such an act will only worsen the invasion of Red Sea species into the Mediterranean facilitating the crossing of the canal for yet additional species.17 Arrival of new tropical Atlantic species In recent decades the arrival of exotic species from the tropical Atlantic has become a noticeable feature. Whether this reflects an expansion of the natural area of these species that now enter the Mediterranean through the Gibraltar strait because of a warming trend of the water caused by Global Warming; or an extension of the maritime traffic; or is simply the result of a more intense scientific investigation is still an open question. While not as intense as the lessepsian movement the process deserves to be studied and monitored. Sea-level rise Europe may be less threatened by sea-level rise than many developing country regions. However coastal ecosystems do appear to be threatened especially enclosed seas such as the Baltic the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. These seas have only small and primarily east-west orientated movement corridors which may restrict northward displacement of organisms in these areas.18 Sea level rise for the next century (2100) could be between 30 cm (12 in) and 100 cm (39 in) and temperature shifts of a mere 0.05-0.1C in the deep sea are sufficient to induce significant changes in species richness and functional diversity.19 Pollution Marine debris on the coast of Tunisia Pollution in this region has been extremely high in recent years. The United Nations Environment Programme has estimated that 650000000 t (720000000 short tons) of sewage 129000 t (142000 short tons) of mineral oil 60000 t (66000 short tons) of mercury 3800 t (4200 short tons) of lead and 36000 t (40000 short tons) of phosphates are dumped into the Mediterranean each year.20 The Barcelona Convention aims to 'reduce pollution in the Mediterranean Sea and protect and improve the marine environment in the area thereby contributing to its sustainable development.'21 Many marine species have been almost wiped out because of the sea's pollution. One of them is the Mediterranean Monk Seal which is considered to be among the world's most endangered marine mammals.22 The Mediterranean is also plagued by marine debris. A 1994 study of the seabed using trawl nets around the coasts of Spain France and Italy reported a particularly high mean concentration of debris; an average of 1935 items per km. Plastic debris accounted for 76% of which 94% was plastic bags.23 Shipping Some of the worlds busiest shipping routes are in the Mediterranean Sea. It is estimated that approximately 220000 merchant vessels of more than 100 tonnes cross the Mediterranean Sea each year about one third of the worlds total merchant shipping. These ships often carry hazardous cargo which if lost would result in severe damage to the marine environment. The discharge of chemical tank washings and oily wastes also represent a significant source of marine pollution. The Mediterranean Sea constitutes 0.7% of the global water surface and yet receives seventeen percent of global marine oil pollution. It is estimated that every year between 100000 t (98000 long tons) and 150000 t (150000 long tons) of crude oil are deliberately released into the sea from shipping activities. Approximately 370000000 t (360000000 long tons) of oil are transported annually in the Mediterranean Sea (more than 20% of the world total) with around 250-300 oil tankers crossing the Sea every day. Accidental oil spills happen frequently with an average of 10 spills per year. A major oil spill could occur at any time in any part of the Mediterranean.19 Tourism Baka Voda is located on the Adriatic coastline of Dalmatia 10 km northwest of Makarska With a unique combination of pleasant climate beautiful coastline rich history and diverse culture the Mediterranean region is the most popular tourist destination in the world attracting approximately one third of the worlds international tourists. Tourism is one of the most important sources of income for many Mediterranean countries. It also supports small communities in coastal areas and islands by providing alternative sources of income far from urban centres. However tourism has also played major role in the degradation of the coastal and marine environment. Rapid development has been encouraged by Mediterranean governments to support the large numbers of tourists visiting the region each year. But this has caused serious disturbance to marine habitats such as erosion and pollution in many places along the Mediterranean coasts. Tourism often concentrates in areas of high natural wealth causing a serious threat to the habitats of endangered Mediterranean species such as sea turtles and monk seals. It is ironic that tourism in this region is destroying the foundations of its own existence. And it is inevitable that the tourists will leave the Mediterranean as it becomes more depleted of its natural beauty.19 Overfishing Fish stock levels in the Mediterranean Sea are alarmingly low. The European Environment Agency says that over 65% of all fish stocks in the region are outside safe biological limits and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation that some of the most important fisheries such as albacore and bluefin tuna hake marlin swordfish red mullet and sea bream are threatened. There are clear indications that catch size and quality have declined often dramatically and in many areas larger and longer-lived species have disappeared entirely from commercial catches. Large open water fish like tuna have been a shared fisheries resource for thousands of years but the stocks are now dangerously low. In 1999 Greenpeace published a report revealing that the amount of bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean had decreased by over 80% in the previous 20 years and government scientists warn that without immediate action the stock will collapse. Aquaculture This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2010) Aquaculture in western Greece Aquaculture is expanding rapidly often without proper environmental assessment and currently accounts for 30% of the fish protein consumed worldwide. The industry claims that farmed seafood lessens the pressure on wild fish stocks yet many of the farmed species are carnivorous consuming up to five times their weight in wild fish. Mediterranean coastal areas are already over exposed to human influence with pristine areas becoming ever scarcer. The aquaculture sector adds to this pressure requiring areas of high water quality to set up farms. The installation of fish farms close to vulnerable and important habitats such as seagrass meadows is particularly concerning. Aquaculture production in the Mediterranean also threatens biodiversity through the introduction of new species to the region the impact of the farms' organic and chemical effluents on the surrounding environment and coastal habitat destruction. See also Mediterranean Basin Mediterranean climate Mediterranean diet Mediterranean forests woodlands and scrub Mediterranean Games Mediterranean race Mediterranean sea (oceanography) Mediterranean Union Familial Mediterranean fever History of the Mediterranean region Holy League (Mediterranean) Seto Inland Sea which is sometimes named the Japanese Mediterranean Sea List of islands in the Mediterranean List of Mediterranean countries Suez Canal Babelmed the site of the Mediterranean cultures Piri Reis early Mediterranean maps Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly References Pinet Paul R. (2008). Invitation to Oceanography. Jones & Barlett Learning. p. 220. ISBN 0763759937. http://books.google.com/booksid6TCm8Xy-sLUC&pgPA220&lpgPA220.  "Microsoft Word - extabstrEastseaworkshopTLM.doc" (PDF). http://www.ifremer.fr/lobtln/OTHER/extabstrEastSeaworkshopTLM.pdf. Retrieved 2010-04-23.  "Researchers predict Mediterranean Sea level rise - Headlines - Research European Commission". Ec.europa.eu. 2009-03-19. http://ec.europa.eu/research/headlines/news/article090319en.html. Retrieved 2010-04-23.  Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel The Philosophy of History p. 87 Dover Publications Inc. 1956 ISBN 0486201120; 1st ed. 1899 entry at Liddell & Scott a b "Limits of Oceans and Seas 3rd edition". International Hydrographic Organization. 1953. http://www.iho-ohi.net/ihopubs/standard/S-23/S231953.pdf. Retrieved 7 February 2010.  Pinet Paul R. (1996) Invitation to Oceanography (3rd ed.) St Paul MN: West Publishing Co. p. 202 ISBN 0314063390  Pinet 1996 p. 206. Pinet 1996 pp. 206207. Pinet 1996 p. 207. 1 For example Andorra San Marino and Serbia are members of the International Mediterranean Games Committee and participate at the Mediterranean Games. Mediterranean Sea filled in less than two years: study AFP December 9 2009 FJ Hilgen. Astronomical calibration of Gauss to Matuyama sapropels in the Mediterranean and implication for the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale 104 (1991) 226-244 Earth and Planetary Science Letters 1991.2 Hsu K.J. "When the Mediterranean Dried Up" Scientific American Vol. 227 December 1972 p32 "IUCN Guidelines for the Prevention of Biodiversity Loss Caused by Alien Invasive Species". International Union for Conservation of Nature. 2000. http://www.issg.org/infpaperinvasive.pdf. Retrieved 2009-08-11. dead link Galil B.S. and Zenetos A. (2002). A sea change: exotics in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in: Leppkoski E. et al. (2002). Invasive aquatic species of Europe: distribution impacts and management. pp. 325-336. Nicholls R.J.; KleinR.J.T. (2005). Climate change and coastal management on Europe's coast in: Vermaat J.E. et al. (Ed.) (2005). Managing European coasts: past present and future. pp. 199-226. a b c "Other threats in the Mediterranean Greenpeace International". Greenpeace.org. http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/oceans/marine-reserves/the-mediterranean/mediterranean-other-threats. Retrieved 2010-04-23.  "Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. Environmental issues". Explorecrete.com. http://www.explorecrete.com/nature/mediterranean.html. Retrieved 2010-04-23.  "EUROPA". Europa.eu. http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l28084.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-23.  "Mediterranean Monk Seal Fact Files: Overview". Monachus-guardian.org. 1978-05-05. http://www.monachus-guardian.org/factfiles/medit01.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-23.  publications/docs/anloview.pdf "Marine Litter: An analytical overview". United Nations Environment Programme. 2005. http://www.unep.org/regionalseas/marinelitter publications/docs/anloview.pdf. Retrieved 2008-08-01.  Further reading Abulafia David (2011). The Great Sea: A Human History of the Mediterranean. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195323344.  External links Look up mediterranean sea in Wiktionary the free dictionary. Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mediterranean Sea Greenpeace campaign "Defending Our Mediterranean": Threats Solutions and Photo Petition Planblue - Environment and Development in the Mediterranean Region Finding Nino By Marc Llewellyn - winner of the ASTW Travel Book of the Year Award about the Mediterranean finding oneself and becoming a peasant farmer. 17 Mediterranean Sea Live ships traffic. 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