The Mediterranean Sea we want

Abstract

Cappelletto et al.This paper presents major gaps and challenges for implementing the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021)(2022)(2023)(2024)(2025)(2026)(2027)(2028)(2029)(2030) in the Mediterranean region. The authors make recommendations on the scientific knowledge needs and codesign actions identified during two consultations, part of the Decade preparatory-phase, framing them in the Mediterranean Sea's unique environmental and socio-economic perspectives. According to the 'Mediterranean State of the Environment and Development Report 2020' by the United Nations Environment Programme Mediterranean Action Plan and despite notable progress, the Mediterranean region is not on track to achieve and fully implement the Sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 2030. Key factors are the cumulative effect of multiple human-induced pressures that threaten the ecosystem resources and services in the global change scenario. The basin, identified as a climate change vulnerability hotspot, is exposed to pollution and rising impacts of climate change. This affects mainly the coastal zones, at increasing risk of extreme events and their negative effects of unsustainable management of key economic assets. Transitioning to a sustainable blue economy is the key for the marine environment's health and the nourishment of future generations. This challenging context, offering the opportunity of enhancing the knowledge to define science-based measures as well as narrowing the gaps between the Northen and Southern shores, calls for a joint (re)action. The paper reviews the state of the art of Mediterranean Sea science knowledge, sets of trends, capacity development needs, specific challenges, and recommendations for each Decade's societal outcome. In the conclusions, the proposal for a Mediterranean regional programme in the framework of the Ocean Decade is addressed. The core objective relies on integrating and improving the existing ocean-knowledge, Ocean Literacy, and ocean observing capacities building on international cooperation to reach the "Mediterranean Sea that we want".

Spatial and temporal distribution of mesozooplankton in the coastal waters of Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean)

“…Mesozooplankton abundance also follows this west-east gradient (Nowaczyk et al, 2011) with higher values found in the upper 100 m layer (Siokou et al, 2019). Coastal areas in the Mediterranean have variable hydrographic characteristics (Schroeder et al, 2013;Menna et al, 2021) and are seasonally exposed to different intensities of anthropogenic and terrestrial influences, which may affect the coastal marine ecosystems (Cappelletto et al, 2021).…”

Ocean acidification research in the Mediterranean Sea: Status, trends and next steps

“…In the last 30 years, CMEMS (Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service) and other observational forecasting integrated systems have been established in the Mediterranean Sea to provide updates on the state of the basin. These products, however, are still limited to physics and to few main biogeochemical variables, and their resolution is not suitable to properly address the ecological features characterizing coastal areas (Cappelletto et al, 2021).…”

“…Models should be able to address the cumulative effect of OA and other stressors, also considering synergistic effects and non-linear interactions. This is crucial to better understand the multiple effects of changes in stressors and to explore adaptation/mitigation measures that can be applied at different spatial and temporal scales (Duarte et al, 2013;Zunino et al, 2021;Cappelletto et al, 2021). Furthermore, it would be important to at least try to incorporate organism plasticity and long-term adaptation in modeling ecosystem response, possibly also considering different life time-span of different organisms and therefore turnover rates (Solidoro et al, 2010).…”

Science and Dissemination for the UN Ocean Decade Outcomes: Current Trends and Future Perspectives

“…Implementing ocean risk reduction for increased safety can only be based on scientific achievements (Cappelletto et al, 2021). A multidisciplinary approach to observe, monitor and model, will promote more effective and sustainable management and development policies.…”

“…In this direction many initiatives have already started. In the Mediterranean area, the SciNMeet Programme ("Science We Need for the Mediterranean Sea We Want") (Cappelletto et al, 2021) is aimed to address major challenges and gaps in scientific knowledge to manage regional impacts in consideration of emerging environmental issues. The Biomolecular Ocean Observing Network is developing a global system that will allow science and society to understand and protect ocean life and will also help communities to detect biological hazards.…”