The Mediterranean is facing unprecedented strain this summer as rising sea temperatures and heavy maritime activity combine to threaten fragile ecosystems…
Monaco Science Centre researcher Stéphanie Renault explained that the current succession of heatwaves is especially dangerous for fixed species such as gorgonians, corals, and bivalves, which cannot escape to cooler waters. Many are already suffering mass die-offs at shallow depths, with red coral studies showing that only at depths of 40 metres do stable, cooler temperatures allow survival.
Tourist activity adds further stress, with overcrowding bringing noise pollution, anchoring on seagrass meadows, and the spread of chemical sunscreens that can damage marine life. Renault pointed out that installing mooring buoys and enforcing marine protected areas could ease pressure by limiting anchoring and regulating boat and diver numbers. Without such measures, vital habitats like Posidonia seagrass beds remain at risk of destruction, undermining the wider balance of the Mediterranean.
Climate change also increases the likelihood of invasive species spreading through the Suez Canal, adapting to Mediterranean waters and posing risks to native wildlife and even humans. One example is the lionfish, now increasingly present, which is edible but dangerous to handle due to venomous spines. Harmful algal blooms, such as Ostreopsis, are another growing concern, causing respiratory difficulties and temporary beach closures across the region.
Although sudden cooling events caused by wind-driven mixing can temporarily lower surface temperatures, rapid shifts can also stress marine life already weakened by heatwaves. Renault stressed that long-term solutions require sustainable management of both tourism and maritime traffic alongside global action against climate change. For now, Monaco’s waters highlight a pressing truth: the health of the sea is inseparable from the wellbeing of those who live along its shores.
