Editing Mediterranean Sea (section)

== Environment ==

The Mediterranean Sea contains many marine and coastal environments, including deep basins, continental shelves, rocky coasts, sandy beaches, wetlands, seagrass meadows, reefs, estuaries, and island ecosystems. These environments support fish, marine mammals, seabirds, shellfish, corals, plankton, and many other forms of marine life.

The sea is affected by pollution, overfishing, coastal development, shipping traffic, invasive species, rising temperatures, water scarcity in nearby regions, and climate change. Some coastal areas are also exposed to erosion, storms, flooding, and pressure from tourism and urban growth.

Because the Mediterranean is almost enclosed, environmental damage can remain concentrated in coastal zones and enclosed basins. Cooperation between surrounding states is important for fisheries, pollution control, port regulation, protected areas, and maritime safety.