The Living Marine Resources in the Mediterranean Sea Large Marine Ecosystem

The Mediterranean Large Marine Ecosystem (Med-LME) is a heterogenous system that, despite its oligotrophic nature, has high diversity of marine species and high rate of endemism making it one of the world hotspots for marine biodiversity. Nevertheless, the basin is also among the most impacted Large Marine Ecosystems of the world due to the combined multiple stressors, such as fishing pressure, habitat loss and degradation, climate change, pollution, eutrophication and the introduction of alien species. The complexity of Med-LME in its structure/function and dynamics, together with the socio-political framework of the region make management of its marine resources quite a challenge. This contribution aims at highlighting the importance of the Med-LME, with an emphasis on the state of its food web and of its fish/fisheries using modelling tools and national/international reporting. We do that to show the importance of an holistic framework, based on stock assessments and ecosystem based modelling approaches, to be adopted in support of management and conservation measures for the preservation and sustainable use of the Med-LME resources.

PIRODDI Chiara;  COLLOCA Francesco;  TSIKLIRAS Athanassios C.; 

2021-02-18

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

JRC121533

2211-4645 (online),   

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211464520300774?via%3Dihub,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC121533,   

10.1016/j.envdev.2020.100555 (online),