How are the species that live in the Mediterranean?
In the Mediterranean Sea live about 10% of all marine species while accounting for just 0.7% of the global marine surface. In order to protect the ecosystems of the Mediterranean, the EU developed a directive in 2008, the marine strategy, with the aim of achieving, by 2020, a "good state of conservation for the European seas", a target that is still far away, however. as revealed in the report published in June 2020.
ISPRA is developing, on behalf of the Italian Ministry of the Environment, Land and Sea, specific monitoring activities related to the marine strategy. In October 2020 the Institute completed an aerial survey in an area of 350.000 square kilometers including the whole Tyrrhenian Sea, from Liguria up to the coasts of Sicily and southern Sardinia.
In addition to marine mammals, the monitoring activity included the Caretta caretta turtle, the mobula or sea devil, at risk of extinction, and seabirds.