Mediterranean Sea faces ecological and structural transformation

The Mediterranean Sea is undergoing profound ecological and structural transformations due to climate change and rapid urban development. Scientists warn that the region has become a climate change “hotspot,” with water temperatures projected to rise by two to six degrees Celsius by 2100. This warming is driving the disappearance of native species and the proliferation of invasive organisms. According to the FAO General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, approximately 1,000 invasive species have been identified, with 800 already permanently established, many of which entered through the Suez Canal.

Marine biologist Ernesto Azuro of the National Research Council of Italy stated that many of these changes are irreversible, noting that the Mediterranean of previous generations is effectively lost. He highlighted the spread of aggressive predators, such as the pufferfish, which thrive in these changing conditions.

Parallel to these ecological shifts, Mediterranean coastal areas are facing social and structural pressures. A public dialogue titled “Devastation of public space and overdevelopment” is scheduled in Pula, Croatia, to address the impacts of tourism pressure, privatization of public spaces, and uncontrolled construction. Experts will discuss the tension between regional development and the loss of local identity and landscape quality in Mediterranean cities.