Chapter 11 - Italian Seas

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The Adriatic Sea has an area of about 138,600km2. Its general circulation is cyclonic and the cold engine of the northern Adriatic causes a thermohaline current that is the major source of the densest water in the eastern Mediterranean. The Tyrrhenian Sea is deep and complex. Temperatures range from 12–13°C in winter to 26–28°C in summer. River flows show large seasonality and cause radical shifts in species composition. The habitats include the seagrass Posidonia oceanica; algal forests of Cystoseira, bioconstructions, marine caves; animal forests (black corals, Corallium rubrum); soft bottoms; and transitional waters (coastal lagoons, deltas, and estuaries). Deep sea contains a number of biodiversity “hot spots,” including open continental slope systems, canyons, seamounts, deep-water coral reefs, hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, and abyssal plains. Penetration of tropical species is one of the most evident effects of global warming. Increased human activities are affecting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Fisheries and aquaculture (mussels and fish) in the Adriatic and southern Tyrrhenian are intense. The Adriatic has >140 offshore active oil and gas fields, and both seas are important touristic destinations. Several legal instruments help ensure sustainable use of resources in these seas. There are currently 29 marine protected areas, mainly in the Tyrrhenian Sea, but these are insufficient to reach the Aichi target that requires protection of at least 10% of marine environments. Trophic downgrading and “jellyfication” currently affect most Italian seas. Clean-up and habitat restoration have been conducted in the Adriatic Sea for >10 years, including experimental restoration of seagrass. In the Gulf of Naples, a highly contaminated area caused by from the decommissioning of industrial activities is being restored, representing the largest effort of decontamination of marine areas ongoing at European Union level.