JERUSALEM, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The Mediterranean Sea is under increasing environmental pressure from rising temperatures, higher sea levels, and the spread of invasive species, according to an Israeli government report released Wednesday.
The report said the sea's upper layer is warming by an average of 0.05 degrees Celsius each year, while sea levels have risen by 15 centimeters since 1992.
It also warned that rising salinity and acidity are threatening the stability of marine ecosystems and putting greater pressure on native species.
Coastal pollution remains a major problem, with metals and plastic waste identified as the main pollutants. Combined with changing water conditions, these factors are contributing to a decline in biodiversity, the report said.
Researchers also found that invasive species are spreading into warmer and saltier waters, often competing with local marine life and making the ecosystem less resilient.
Despite the overall decline, the report noted some signs of recovery. Water quality improved in certain areas, and the builder tube snail, a species that helps stabilize coastal formations, has begun to return in some locations.
The monitoring program, launched in 2019, uses data from both coastal and deep-sea observations. Researchers said monitoring continued through 2024, although war-related restrictions and supply shortages disrupted some data collection.
The report called for stronger pollution controls, responsible fishing management, and greater protection of marine ecosystems to safeguard the Mediterranean's future.
