The waters of Sardinia, at the center of a real thermal shock, epicenter of the warming that has hit the Mediterranean Sea. This is confirmed by the data of the Mare Caldo 2024 report by Greenpeace Italy, which for five years has been monitoring the effects of climate change on the biodiversity of the 'king' of the seas. The Mediterranean coral Cladocora caespitosa is showing serious levels of bleaching, the island of Asinara has been affected by 14 heat waves during the year, a national record, Capo Carbonara with values of +1.49 ° C, and then again at Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo 48 benthic species with a moderate ecological status.
"Climate change is the most urgent threat to the Mediterranean. Copernicus maps show record heat waves, up to +5°C, an alarm that we cannot ignore", said Chiara Campione, director of Greenpeace Italy: the Mare Nostrum suffers, yet less than 1% is protected, a sea victim of intensive pollution, especially from plastic, which threatens thousands of species, and today besieged by the effects of a tropical climate that distorts the proverbial meteorological mildness. The Marevivo Foundation also shares the alarm, estimating that by 2100 the temperature on the surface of the water will rise by 3.5 to 4.5°C compared to today.
Three monitoring stations spread from north to south of Sardinia, in the marine protected area of Capo Carbonara, in that of Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo and on the island of Asinara, twelve in total are those present along the Italian coasts. Three areas, the Sardinian ones, protected for a long time and which contain important protected marine species, which however are not immune to the effects of global warming.
Considered a true marine treasure chest that contains 8% of the world's species, the Mediterranean is a blue drop that boasts a wealth of biodiversity about ten times higher than the world average. On the eve of the International Day of the Mediterranean Sea set for next July 8, here comes "The Sea in Your Pocket", a practical guide by Greenpeace to learn about the Mare Nostrum and protect it with awareness. The handbook contains advice and curiosities about the marine basin with its inhabitants, among which the monk seal, sharks, dolphins and sperm whales stand out, mammals and fish among the species most at risk and most present in the three Sardinian marine protected areas monitored by the environmentalist organization.
