Marine protected areas for whales, dolphins, and porpoises: a world ...

Habitat Protection for Cetaceans around the World 131
North Africa. As of 2004, however, Tunisia was considering proposals for nine
MPAs in national waters, none of which have been created for cetaceans, but
six of which are known to have cetacean presence. Surveys have just begun and
are reportedly showing some cetacean habitat. There are known resident
bottlenose and possibly other dolphin populations in Tunisian waters.
With the intensive cetacean field work on a range of species led by Spanish
scientists in the Strait of Gibraltar, possibly soon with the collaboration of
Moroccan scientists, there may well be cetacean habitat protection proposals in
the near future. The Pelagos Sanctuary for Mediterranean Marine Mammals
should be used as a model for multi-country agreements in the region and
around the world.
The Mediterranean Marine Region has two large marine ecosystems
(LMEs) that have been identified: the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea. There
are substantial upwelling areas along the coast of North Africa and between
the Ligurian Sea and the Golfe du Lion. The Mediterranean is almost a closed
sea yet it is subject to outside influences, especially in the western portion. The
narrow Strait of Gibraltar, only 12 miles (20 km) wide and 1050 feet (320 m)
deep, limits the inflow of surface waters from the North Atlantic and the
outflow of salty Mediterranean water. It takes about a century for the
Mediterranean to replace its water.
Politically, the Mediterranean and Black Sea have some 27 countries and
one territory within the region (see Table 5.1 on p89). Some 130 million people
live along the 29,000 miles (46,000 km) of Mediterranean coastline alone, and
the land areas of the region are visited by 150 million tourists a year. Large
populations and industry located close to the coast contribute to marine
pollution from agricultural runoff and sewage, and visiting ships carry oil and
other risky cargo. Also worrying is Caulerpa grass, the mutant invader that kills
algae and everything else; it stands as a threat to the future of marine life in the
Mediterranean.
Mediterranean researchers across many disciplines have worked to address
these problems with substantial cooperative efforts. A case in point is the
pioneering ACCOBAMS agreement (the Agreement on the Conservation of
Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area).
Entering into force in 2001, ACCOBAMS has encouraged the establishment of
a network of specially protected areas to conserve habitats and species,
including cetaceans. The agreement of the parties includes a wide range of
protections for cetaceans. Some argue that the comprehensive range of
protections included under ACCOBAMS in effect makes the entire
Mediterranean at least a Category VI MPA. If so, it would be too physically and
culturally sprawling to offer real habitat protection to cetaceans or other marine
species. In any case, ACCOBAMS is certain to become a model for marine and
other agreements in other marine regions. A comprehensive status report for
the Mediterranean and Black Sea Marine Region to the ACCOBAMS Secretariat
was released in February 2002. Entitled ‘Cetaceans of the Mediterranean and
Black Seas: state of knowledge and conservation strategies’ (Notarbartolo di
Sciara, 2002), it can be obtained at www.accobams.org.