Created in 2023, the MED30 initiative is a Med Sea Alliance project led by Marilles Foundation, Oceana, and Ecologistas en Acción (Ecologists in Action). MED30 aims to achieve the effective protection of 30% of the Spanish Mediterranean by 2030, with 10% strictly protected. In other words, one out of every ten hectares of sea must be free from pressures that compromise its environmental health and threaten its biodiversity.
These goals are in line with the 30×30 initiative A Global Deal For Nature and the European Union’s biodiversity strategy. Moreover, Spain has expressed its support for the 30×30 strategy, especially in the marine environment, and has committed itself to achieving 25% protection by 2025 as an intermediate step towards the final objective.
However, the great challenge is to get 10% of the ocean declared strictly protected waters. This is the only way to ensure the protection of biodiversity and the richness of the sea and to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises we are facing. In addition, it is essential that marine protected areas (MPAs) are also effectively managed, through ambitious management plans.
Those who make decisions about ocean protection have a responsibility. Our commitment is to ensure that they fulfil it.
We want to ensure that the Mediterranean Sea continues to be a source of life and wellbeing for our society and for future generations.