BALEARIC MARINAS ARE UNDER THREAT

WWF, the conservation organization, yesterday released results of a new study highlighting the 13 most important areas and marinas in need of protection in the Mediterranean sea, including a number in the Balearics, and urged governments to commit to the protection and sustainable management of at least 10% of the surface of marine and coastal areas in the region over the next 10 years. According to the WWF study, ”Mediterranean Marine Gap Analysis”, the three major threats to the Mediterranean sea as a whole, and in particular these 13 important sites, are uncontrolled coastal construction, pollution from industries and intensive agriculture and oil spills, and over-fishing. As part of a call to all the governments concerned to ensure the protection and efficient management of these sites, WWF recommended that coastal trawling from 0 to 50 m of depth be banned and enforced throughout the Mediterranean, that coastal construction in any of these 13 areas be prohibited, and for international pollution legislation to be applied across the board in the Mediterranean. ”The Mediterranean is also the region with the highest number of endemic species in the world, after tropical regions. These 13 areas should be absolutely protected if we want to save the Mediterranean's unique heritage.” said Paolo Guglielmi WWF Mediterranean Programme Officer.