International Day of the Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean is a sea of extraordinary natural beauty, history, and culture that deserves to be protected and enhanced. Its unique heritage is celebrated each year on 8 July with the International Day of the Mediterranean Sea. Through the MER Project (Marine Ecosystem Restoration), funded under Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), ISPRA is developing a comprehensive initiative to map, restore, and protect one of the world's richest—and most fragile—marine ecosystems. The project's goal is to safeguard the Mediterranean's biodiversity and preserve it for future generations. The MER Project, the largest marine initiative within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, is led by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) as the responsible authority, with ISPRA acting as the sole implementing body. The project comprises 37 lines of activity to be carried out across the entire national territory and is structured around three main pillars: the restoration and protection of the seabed, the strengthening of marine and coastal observing systems, and the mapping of coastal and marine habitats of conservation interest.
- https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/en/news/international-day-of-the-mediterranean-sea-1
- International Day of the Mediterranean Sea
- 2026-07-08T00:00:00+02:00
- 2026-07-08T23:59:59+02:00
- The Mediterranean is a sea of extraordinary natural beauty, history, and culture that deserves to be protected and enhanced. Its unique heritage is celebrated each year on 8 July with the International Day of the Mediterranean Sea. Through the MER Project (Marine Ecosystem Restoration), funded under Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), ISPRA is developing a comprehensive initiative to map, restore, and protect one of the world's richest—and most fragile—marine ecosystems. The project's goal is to safeguard the Mediterranean's biodiversity and preserve it for future generations. The MER Project, the largest marine initiative within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, is led by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) as the responsible authority, with ISPRA acting as the sole implementing body. The project comprises 37 lines of activity to be carried out across the entire national territory and is structured around three main pillars: the restoration and protection of the seabed, the strengthening of marine and coastal observing systems, and the mapping of coastal and marine habitats of conservation interest.
- When Jul 08, 2026 (Europe/Berlin / UTC200)
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On 4 June, ISPRA, the National System for Environmental Protection (SNPA), and Marevivo presented the latest data on the health of Italy's seas.
Based on analyses carried out over the past four years by the National System for Environmental Protection (SNPA), the updated national data on bathing water quality once again confirm outstanding results for 2026. Overall, 94.9% of the monitored coastal bathing waters were classified as "excellent", with nearly 6,000 kilometres of coastline achieving the highest quality standard established under European legislation. During 2025, the SNPA carried out around 30,000 water samples and monitored approximately 5,000 sites across coastal waters, lakes, and rivers, ensuring continuous surveillance of water quality.
These findings confirm the excellent quality of Italy's coastal waters while also highlighting the importance of considering the marine environment as a whole. Bathing water quality is only one indicator of the overall health of marine ecosystems. Biodiversity, habitat conservation, seabed quality, microplastic pollution, and the impacts of climate change are equally critical aspects that must be monitored and protected to safeguard the marine environment for future generations.