Integrating consideration of coastal aquifers into the Mediterranean Sea TDA: a possible framework
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis - 2005
Major Perceived
Environmental Concerns
in the Mediterranean
Sea LME
Decline of Biodiversity
Statement of the causes
Pollution (sewage, oil,
nutrients), invasive species,
introduced species, land
reclamation, river damming
and flow modification, overfishing, by-catch, and adverse
effects of fishing gear and uses
on marine habitats (e.g.,
bottom trawling), solid waste
disposal at sea, uncontrolled
tourist presence in ecologically
sensitive areas as well as
inadequate public and
stakeholders awareness, and
inadequate or non-existent
legislation and available
enforcement means.
Main Issues of of
Transboundary
Concern
Land Based Pollution
Degradation and
Conversion of Critical
Habitats: Sea Grass
Meadows; Coastal
Wetlands and Lagoons
Overexploitation of
Marine Living resources
Coastal Aquifers
Contribution to issues
of transboundary
concern
Causes of degradation
Submarine discharges
of contaminated
groundwater polluting
coastal waters
Domestic, agricultural
and industrial wastes
contaminating shallow
coastal aquifers;
Pollution, overexploitation and/or
reduced natural
recharge impair aquifer
function in sustaining
coastal lagoons and
wetlands and the
services they provide.
Modifications of
habitats due to sea
water intrusion or to
reduced submarine
discharges of
groundwater.
Alien Species
Introduction
1
To be linked with the Cause of Degradation, or the transboundary issues(s) that the pilot is trying to address
Over-exploitation
inducing salinization
and sea water intrusion;
Land use practices
and/or climate
variability and change
reducing natural
recharge rates.
Testing solutions
through Pilot
demonstrations1
Morocco (Nador
Lagoon and Bou Areg
aquifer)
Croatia (Novljanska
Zrnovnica karstic spring
and Pula coastal
aquifer)
Etc….?
Tunisia (Gar El Melah)
Albania/Montenegro
(Buna/Bujana coastal
Decline in Fisheries
Decline in Sea Water
Quality
Human Health Risks
Pollution, overfishing, loss of
habitat, excessive by-catch,
deleterious fishing gear, lack of
enforcement of laws and
agreements in the high seas,
and sophisticated methods to
find and catch fish.
Overfishing
Anthropogenic
Pressures on Coastal
Zones
Impaired aquifer
function in sustaining
coastal lagoons and
wetlands
Land based sources of marine
pollution, both point and non
point, determine increasing
trends in eutrophication and
its related oxygen deficiency
and bloom of nuisance species;
presence of hot spots of
pollution (125 identified by
TDA) leading to decline in
overall water quality, loss of
coastal habitats and
biodiversity, and human health
problems.
Land Based Pollution:
(i) Point Sources
(Excess Nutrients,
Toxics and PTS)
(ii) Non Point Sources
(mostly nutrients from
agriculture, and
sediments)
Submarine discharges
of contaminated
groundwater polluting
shallow coastal waters
Pollutants that degrade the
ecosystem also present risks to
human health, including not
only heavy metals,
organochlorines, pesticides,
hydrocarbons, and the like, but
also microbial and viral
pollution. In addition, the
response of the ecosystem to
stress may induce toxicity that
may affect humans, such as
toxic dinoflagellates that arise
from eutrophic conditions in
some instances. Primary
pathways for human health
risks include ingestion of
Land Based Pollution
zone)
Use of non-selective
fishing gear
Anthropogenic
Pressures on Coastal
Zones
Anthropogenic
Pressures on Coastal
Zones
Reduced submarine
discharges of high
quality groundwater
Submarine discharges
of contaminated
groundwater polluting
shallow coastal waters
Impaired aquifer
function in sustaining
coastal lagoons and
wetlands
Algeria (Reghaia coastal
zone)
Tunisia (Gabes Oasis)
Morocco (Martil river
coastal wetland)
water or seafood products,
contact with contaminated
seawater (or in some cases,
beaches), and perhaps contact
with contaminated sea food
(for marine products
workers).