Editing Mediterranean Sea (section)

===Pollution===
[[Marine pollution|Pollution]] in this region has been extremely high in recent years.{{When|date=May 2012}} The [[United Nations Environment Programme]] has estimated that {{convert|650000000|t|ST|abbr=on}} of [[sewage]], {{convert|129000|t|ST|abbr=on}} of [[mineral oil]], {{convert|60000|t|ST|abbr=on}} of mercury, {{convert|3800|t|ST|abbr=on}} of lead and {{convert|36000|t|ST|abbr=on}} of [[phosphate]]s are dumped into the Mediterranean each year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.explorecrete.com/nature/mediterranean.html|title=Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. Environmental issues|publisher=Explore Crete|access-date=23 April 2010|archive-date=13 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113033738/http://explorecrete.com/nature/mediterranean.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Barcelona Convention]] aims to 'reduce pollution in the Mediterranean Sea and protect and improve the marine environment in the area, thereby contributing to its sustainable development.'<ref>{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l28084.htm |title=EUROPA |publisher=Europa |access-date=23 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409220807/http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l28084.htm |archive-date=9 April 2009}}</ref>
Many marine species have been almost wiped out because of the sea's pollution. One of them is the [[Mediterranean monk seal]] which is considered to be among the world's most [[endangered]] [[marine mammal]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.monachus-guardian.org/factfiles/medit01.htm|title=Mediterranean Monk Seal Fact Files: Overview|publisher=Monachus-guardian.org|date=5 May 1978|access-date=23 April 2010|archive-date=12 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190912082329/https://www.monachus-guardian.org/factfiles/medit01.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> 
The Mediterranean is also plagued by [[marine debris]]. A 1994 study of the [[seabed]] using [[trawl net]]s around the coasts of Spain, France and Italy reported a particularly high mean concentration of debris; an average of 1,935 items per km<sup>2</sup> ({{convert|1,935|/km2|disp=out}}).<ref name="nep.org/regionalseas/ma">{{cite web |url=http://www.unep.org/regionalseas/marinelitter/publications/docs/anl_oview.pdf |title=Marine Litter: An Analytical Overview |access-date=1 August 2008 |year=2005 |publisher=United Nations Environment Programme |archive-date=17 July 2007 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20070717141400/http://www.unep.org/regionalseas/marinelitter/publications/docs/anl_oview.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref>