50th Anniversary
of the Barcelona Convention
INFO/RAC at MedProgramme Outreach Workshop for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro
The MedProgramme Outreach Workshop, held in Tirana on 21–22 April and organized by GWP Med under Child Project 2.2 following the WEFE NEXUS consultation meeting, represented an important opportunity for exchange to strengthen the visibility, replicability, and outreach of MedProgramme activities in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.
The First Action Plan of the Mediterranean Pact Presented
The European Commission has presented the first Action Plan for the implementation of the Mediterranean Pact, marking the transition from political commitments to concrete actions. This first edition provides for 21 innovative and co-designed actions, which will be launched over the course of the year and aim to generate tangible benefits for citizens and businesses across the entire Mediterranean region.
Blue Economy in the Mediterranean: the key role of UNEP/MAP
From 20 to 22 April 2026, UNEP/MAP took part in a series of important meetings in Barcelona, actively contributing to the regional dialogue on the sustainable blue economy. In this context, the Steering Committee of the Blue Mediterranean Partnership, the 19th Meeting of the Union for the Mediterranean Regional Platform on Sustainable Blue Economy, and the first working session on the Blue Economy Strategy for the Eastern Mediterranean were held.
A meeting on the largest marine bivalve in the Mediterranean
A workshop dedicated to the conservation and management of Pinna nobilis, one of the most threatened marine species in the Mediterranean. The international event was organized by UNEP/MAP-SPA/RAC in collaboration with IUCN Med, the University of Rome Tor Vergata, FAO-GFCM, and the Senckenberg Research Institute, and took place from 14 to 16 April in Jesolo.
Gaia First and SPA/RAC together for marine conservation in the Mediterranean
Within the context of the Mediterranean policies of the Barcelona Convention and the international frameworks of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science, Gaia First and the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (SPA/RAC) have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at strengthening marine and coastal conservation in the Mediterranean.
The agreement represents a significant step towards achieving Good Environmental Status of marine ecosystems, in line with the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) of the Barcelona Convention.
European Maritime Day in Cyprus
Cyprus will host the European Maritime Day 2026 on 21–22 May. The event will take place in the old town, at the Carob Mill in Limassol. High-level sessions, the exhibition, and part of the workshops will be held in this venue, while additional workshops will take place nearby. Organized by the European Commission, the Deputy Ministry for Shipping of the Republic of Cyprus, and the Municipality of Limassol, the event brings together the maritime community for networking, exchanging ideas, and defining joint actions on issues related to the sea and the sustainable blue economy.
New Loggerhead sea turtle nesting site discovered in Tunisia
A recent scientific study has confirmed the presence of a population of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) nesting for the first time documented on Ghedhabna Beach, on Tunisia’s eastern coast. Over three consecutive nesting seasons (2023–2025), an average of nearly 40 nests per year were recorded, making Ghedhabna the second most important nesting site in Tunisia, after the Kuriat Islands. The study, supported by SPA/RAC, is led by the National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies (INSTM) in collaboration with the association Notre Grand Bleu and local communities.
European Ocean Board Launched
The European Ocean Board has been officially launched by the European Commission. This expert group supports the implementation of the European Ocean Pact, the EU strategy designed to protect the oceans and promote a thriving blue economy. The aim is to shape the future of EU ocean policy. The expert group will be tasked with: Advising the Commission on achieving the objectives of the European Ocean Pact; providing opinions on specific matters related to the Ocean Pact; promoting dialogue among members to encourage coherence and synergy between EU policies and private sector initiatives.
Pygmy Sperm whale identified in the Mediterranean Sea
The discovery comes thanks to the European project LIFE-CONCEPTU MARIS, led by ISPRA: the “pygmy sperm whale” (Kogia breviceps), previously thought to be absent from the Mediterranean, has been identified through environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, the collection of all genetic traces an organism leaves in its environment.
This was not a direct sighting or captured in underwater footage; the whale’s presence was revealed through genetic traces released into the marine environment and collected from simple water samples.
MedWaves: new publication
MedWaves has recently published “Small Mediterranean Islands at the Frontline: Advancing a Just Transition to a Circular, Plastic-Free Economy”, a position paper developed within the framework of the Interreg Euro-MED LooP Zone project, under the Mission dedicated to sustainable tourism. The document proposes a series of policy recommendations and strategic messages that place Mediterranean islands at the center of the transition towards a fairer and more sustainable European circular economy.
Plan Bleu unveils core chapters for New Sustainable Finance Volume
Plan Bleu has announced the eight core chapters for its upcoming volume, “Blended Finance for a Greener Future”, part of the organization’s 2026–2027 work program. The book will explore how combining public resources with private investment can help close the sustainability funding gap across the Mediterranean region. The call for papers sparked widespread interest, receiving 28 proposals from 38 authors. The final selection demonstrates a strong commitment to both gender and regional diversity: twenty of the contributors are women, while 27 authors are based at universities in Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries.
New Environmental Governance Lessons Begin
The new School-to-Work Training Program (PFSL), formerly known as PCTO, officially began on March 18. Titled “A Lesson in Environmental Governance: Discovering Actions for the Mediterranean Sea and Its Coasts”, the program is organized by the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) and promoted by the Regional Activity Centre for Information and Communication (INFO/RAC).
