Mediterranean Heat Waves Threaten Deep-Water Coral on Italy's Elba Island

Greenpeace Italy's sixth “Mare Caldo” report documents marine heat waves reaching depths of up to 40 metres in the Mediterranean, with temperatures as high as 25 °C. The data, collected from 14 monitoring stations (13 in protected areas and one at the non‑protected Elba Island), show necrosis and bleaching of key gorgonian corals such as *Eunicella cavolini* and *Paramuricea clavata*, and a rise in thermophilic and invasive species.

Satellite observations from Copernicus confirm the broader trend, recording surface temperatures of 29 °C in La Spezia and anomalies up to +8 °C above historical averages, making parts of the Mediterranean resemble Caribbean conditions. Greenpeace campaigner Valentina Di Miccoli calls for stricter emission cuts, arguing that protection measures alone cannot safeguard marine biodiversity as climate‑driven warming deepens.

The findings underscore accelerating ecosystem stress in Italy’s seas and highlight the need for coordinated climate action across the Mediterranean region.