Assessing the Progress and Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean: A Decade of Insights

Since 2010, and every four years, MedPAN (the Network of Mediterranean MPAs managers) and the UNEP/MAP Regional Activity Center for Specially Protected Areas (SPA/RAC) have been working with Mediterranean countries, NGOs, MPA management bodies, and other regional organisations to assess progress toward international and regional marine protected area (MPA) targets. By 2020, 8.33 % of the Mediterranean Sea had been designated as MPAs. However, 97.33 % of this protected surface lies within the waters of EU member states, highlighting a stark disparity in protection efforts across the region.

An online survey conducted in 2020 captured the experiences of managers from 152 nationally designated Mediterranean MPAs, providing valuable insights into the resources, governance, and management practices that influence MPA effectiveness. The survey revealed that regulating human activities within MPAs is critical to achieving conservation goals, but effectiveness remains tied to the availability of key resources such as funding, governance frameworks, and practical management tools.

Notably, only 0.04 % of the Mediterranean Sea—approximately 1,096 km²—is designated as no-go, no-take, or no-fishing zones, representing the highest level of protection. There has been no significant expansion of these high-protection zones over the past decade. The cumulative size of these areas varies greatly, with the smallest covering 0.01 km² and the largest spanning 156 km². Half of these MPAs have zones smaller than 2 km², and three-quarters are under 6 km². Only 18 MPAs exceed 10 km², and just 2 MPAs protect areas larger than 100 km².

The analysis also highlights a striking imbalance in financial and management capacities. Only 7 % of MPAs with no-go, no-take, or no-fishing areas have a suitable budget for effective management, all located in EU member states in the western Mediterranean basin. Furthermore, only 15 % of MPAs with no-go, no-take, or no-fishing areas have fully implemented management plans, while 37 % have partially implemented plans, and 21 % lack any management plan.

Given the escalating pressures on the Mediterranean's marine ecosystems—including human activities, pollution, invasive species, and climate change—there is an urgent need to strengthen the network of MPAs. This can be achieved by enhancing the network's collective capacity to address mounting environmental challenges, as well as by supporting individual MPAs. Efforts should include closing gaps in protection and ensuring the necessary conditions for effective management, ultimately leading to greater ecological benefits.