Medbiolitter database summarises results of scientific studies on biodiversity and marine litter interactions in the Mediterranean Sea. To this end, information is collected from different data sources, such as institutions or projects, as well as peer-reviewed publications. The main source of data currently is LITTERBASE/AWI, including only the coverage within the Mediterranean. Several spatial and data corrections were made from the previous version (v.3, Sep 2019). The database currently comprises 568 records on interactions. Interaction refers to encounters between wildlife and litter items and are classified in four categories: 1) Ingestion, which is the most frequently observed interaction, followed by 2) entanglement, which affects motility, often with fatal consequences, 3) colonization, which occurs when many species settle on floating litter, and 4) others, including different types of less frequent interaction. The database includes among others the location, the type of interaction and litter, marine realm (beach, sea surface, water column, seafloor), habitat, species, whether it occurs in a marine protected area and the type in such case, as well as references to the publication from which the data are extracted. The layer is represented in different ways in the MED Biodiversity platform: 1) Marine litter and biodiversity interactions: it shows the database by type of interaction (ingestion, entanglement, colonization and other) and marine realm (pelagic or benthic). 2) Knowledge update: changes in the number of records in each database version. It tries to represent the efforts of the PANACeA project to gather additional information on the Mediterranean Sea. 3) Marine litter knowledge from 1988 to present date: shows the years of publication of the source of the records in the database. In recent dates, especially since 2015, there has been a notable increase in the number of publications related to marine litter.

In MPA-ADAPT project in the framework of T-MedNet, temperature is being recorded in situ by Stowaway Tidbits, Stowaway Tidbits v2 and HOBO Water Temp Pro v2 autonomous sensors and recovered annually or semi-annually by divers usually before and after the summer period. The temperature sensors are set to collect hourly records. In general, sensors are placed every 5 m from 5 to 40 m depth at each study site by fixing them to the rocky substrate. To fix the sensors we fill natural holes with putty allowing to set up PVC clips or screws which are used to fix the temperature sensors. (In some cases the temperature sensors are also attached to the buoys chains or cords).

The map shows the distribution of main cruise ports in the Mediterranean Sea. Ports are classified in groups according to its level of activity.

Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972. What makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional is its universal application. World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located. The natural marine heritage is recollected into MAPAMED which is a cartographic database of key information on Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) potential Other Effective área-based Conservation Measure (OECMs), and more broadly on sites of interest for marine conservation. It is developed and administered jointly by UNEP/MAP-SPA/RAC and the MedPAN Association. For detailed information, please consult the MAPAMED user manual (April 2021 version).

The EBSAs are special areas in the ocean that serve important purposes, in one way or another, to support the healthy functioning of oceans and the many services that it provides. These areas are recollected into MAPAMED which is a cartographic database of key information on Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) potential Other Effective área-based Conservation Measure (OECMs), and more broadly on sites of interest for marine conservation. It is developed and administered jointly by UNEP/MAP-SPA/RAC and the MedPAN Association. For detailed information, please consult the MAPAMED user manual (April 2021 version).

The map shows the distribution of main ferry ports in the Mediterranean Sea. Ports are classified in groups according to its level of activity.

The map shows the distribution of main passengers transport ports in the Mediterranean Sea. Ports are classified in groups according to its level of activity.

Mediterranean continental plateau (Isobath < 200 m) SOURCE: derived by CNR- ISMAR from Emodnet Bathymetry (2016) EMODnet Bathymetry Consortium (2016): EMODnet Digital Bathymetry (DTM). http://doi.org/10.12770/c7b53704-999d-4721-b1a3-04ec60c87238

A Fisheries Restricted Area (FRA) is a geographically defined area in which some specific fishing activities are temporarily or permanently banned or restricted in order to improve the exploitation patterns and conservation of specific stocks as well as of habitats and deep-sea ecosystems. In the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, 1,760,000 km2 of sea habitats are protected by nine FRAs established by the GFCM. This includes one large deep-water FRA (1,730,000 km2) in which the use of towed dredges and trawl nets in all waters deeper than 1000 metres is banned to protect deep-sea benthic habitats. These areas are recollected into MAPAMED which is a cartographic database of key information on Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) potential Other Effective área-based Conservation Measure (OECMs), and more broadly on sites of interest for marine conservation. It is developed and administered jointly by UNEP/MAP-SPA/RAC and the MedPAN Association. For detailed information, please consult the MAPAMED user manual (April 2021 version).

The layer shows the location of Platamuni, first Marine Protected Area in Montenegro which was declared on International Mother Earth Day, 22 April 2021. The Nature Park "Platamuni" is accommodated in the northwest part of the coastal waters in Montenegro, including associated coastline between the Cape Žabica in the northwest and Cape Platamuni in southeast near the beach Ploče. The main reason for proclaiming this first MPA in Montenegro is protecting its ecologically important marine and coastal species and habitats. The Platamuni area is characterized by its main marine cave at the south of Bigova, with at its entrance an extraordinary development of bio-constructions. It also hosts a vast Posidonia oceanica meadow on rock at the western side of Greben Kalafat, continuing by deep coralligenous assemblages on rock. The distribution of caves along the coastline ranges three protected areas: - Zone 0. Platamuni granica zasticenog podrucja - Zone 1. Platamuni II zona zastite morski dio Rt Platamuni - Zone 2. Platamuni II zona zastite morski dio This particular area has benefited in recent years from the support of UNEP/MAP-SPA/RAC, notably through regional projects on marine and coastal protected areas and key habitats mapping in the Mediterranean.