Researchers identify the most threatened areas by human activity in the Mediterranean Sea

A study led by the expert Francisco Ramírez, from the Faculty of Biology and the Biodiversity Research Institute of the University of Barcelona (IRBio), analysed and distributed the existing information on several impacts that are simultaneously affecting the Mediterranean Sea: from climate impacts like the rise of temperatures in the sea, to the fishing pressure on natural resources or changes in physical and chemical conditions. The result is a map of the places that are most affected by human activity such as the Adriatic Sea, the Aegean Sea, the African coast and the Catalan sea, among others. According to the researchers, this information will enable identifying areas that need local action to minimize the impacts of a global problem such as climate change.

The new study has been published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports and is signed by Marta Coll and Joan Navarro, from the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), and Javier Bustamante and Andy J. Green, from the Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC).

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Photo: Javier Díaz.