Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean Sea provide a chance for fish, marine mammals, corals and seagrasses to return. But why are these sanctuaries essential for marine life? And how are our partner organizations working to expand them? We speak to organizations during a Med Sea Alliance meeting. “Whales have even been spotted again in areas where they hadn’t been seen for years.”

Lifeless white stones

“Look, you can see dozens of sandbar sharks swimming around in this bay,” says Zafer Kızılkaya, director of the Turkish marine NGO Akdeniz Koruma Derneği, as he points to underwater camera footage. “They’ve found their way back to the bay and are breeding here.” Where there was once an underwater desert, a vibrant nursery of seagrass, plants, fish, and marine mammals has emerged in just a few years. Life has returned to what is now a Marine Protected Area, or MPA. What used to be a barren seabed with only lifeless white stones is now a thriving green landscape underwater. Zafer adds with a smile, “Invasive fish species that were grazing the macroalgae now face natural predators again. It’s a beautiful example of the sea’s resilience.”

Back to our ancestors’ era

Cabrera Island lies off the coast of Mallorca and is one of the oldest protected areas in the Mediterranean. Pep Coll was deeply involved in the monitoring of fish populations in this MPA in the early 1990s and he has contributed to the development of other protected areas in the region. Today, he still monitors fish stocks within MPAs for the local government. “Cabrera has been a huge inspiration for creating new protected areas. In just seven years, the biomass — the amount of flora and fauna — has increased tenfold. This is crucial. We essentially need to go back to fish stocks from about 70 years ago, when my grandfather was fishing here. Creating more MPAs like Cabrera is the answer, as they act as nurseries where fish and other marine life have time to recover. This not only benefits biodiversity but also fishing itself, which is why we need to involve fishermen.”

Back to our ancestors’ era

Cabrera Island lies off the coast of Mallorca and is one of the oldest protected areas in the Mediterranean. Pep Coll was deeply involved in the monitoring of fish populations in this MPA in the early 1990s and he has contributed to the development of other protected areas in the region. Today, he still monitors fish stocks within MPAs for the local government. “Cabrera has been a huge inspiration for creating new protected areas. In just seven years, the biomass — the amount of flora and fauna — has increased tenfold. This is crucial. We essentially need to go back to fish stocks from about 70 years ago, when my grandfather was fishing here. Creating more MPAs like Cabrera is the answer, as they act as nurseries where fish and other marine life have time to recover. This not only benefits biodiversity but also fishing itself, which is why we need to involve fishermen.”

Real-life examples

“Exactly. Entire families and fishing communities depend on the sea, both for food and livelihood,” Mariagrazia Graziano, EU/Mediterranean Senior Manager at Global Fishing Watch, responds to Pep’s insights. “You can’t separate marine life and biodiversity protection from the people dependent on it.”
Global Fishing Watch uses advanced technology to make global fishing activity visible, and they believe that solid science and transparent data are the real catalysts for informed decision-making. Mariagrazia explains: “Coastal communities are tired of endless talks about potential protected areas without real action. We’ve found it is most useful to simply present concrete examples. For instance, we use interactive maps to reveal what’s happening at sea — where potentially destructive or illegal fishing occurs and how it affects local, small-scale fishers. Our tools and data empower communities and decision-makers to call for stronger protections and support more sustainable management.”

Divers take action

When establishing an MPA, it’s important not only to involve local communities but also other stakeholders, like divers. “COVID was a turning point for divers. We noticed that with the sea being quieter — fewer boats, fishing, and tourists — the fish returned. Whales were even seen in areas where they hadn’t been for years,” shares Ian Campbell from the PADI AWARE Foundation. “This shifted our community’s mindset. Before COVID, divers would typically ask each other: how many dives have you logged? Now they ask: what have you done to protect the ocean?”
Divers are essential advocates for ocean conservation and push governments to take action. “Globally, there are about 28 million divers connected to the diving organization PADI. Mobilizing this group captures the attention of governments, especially since economic interests like tourist revenues are also at stake.”

Economic benefits

“Money talks when it comes to ocean conservation,” agrees Aniol Esteban, director of the Marilles Foundation. He always has economic arguments ready when meeting with local and national governments. “Investing in MPAs pays off. Marilles has commissioned research on this, showing that for every euro invested in the Llevant MPA near Mallorca, 10 euros are returned to the local economy and community. Just the recreational benefits alone are impressive, generating over 3 million euros annually. Local fishermen also benefit from protected areas, as we see fish populations recover faster within and around strictly protected zones.”

Aniol is optimistic but acknowledges the work ahead. “Around the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, about 20 percent of the sea is protected, but only 0.07 percent is strictly protected, closed to fishing. According to UN targets, at least 30 percent of the seas should be protected by 2030, of which at least 10 percent being strictly protected. And keep in mind, the situation here is relatively good — the Balearics are the best student in a failing class.”

Joining forces in the Med Sea Alliance

Akdeniz Koruma Derneği, Global Fishing Watch, the PADI AWARE Foundation, and Marilles Foundation are all members of the Med Sea Alliance, an alliance of nearly 20 organizations dedicated to preserving the Mediterranean Sea. One of their key goals is to meet a crucial UN target: by 2030, 30 percent of the ocean must be protected, limiting activities such as destructive fishing, shipping routes, and offshore wind farms. Within this 30 percent, 10 percent must be strictly protected, prohibiting all human activities.
However, in the Mediterranean, these goals are still far from being met. Members of the Med Sea Alliance collaborate to compile scientific and economic evidence, advocate for stronger protection, and engage with local, regional, and national governments, as well as international bodies like the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM). Their shared mission is to establish a large, well-connected network of protected areas at sea.