The impacts of hydrocarbon-related activities on marine megafauna
Case studies from the Mediterranean Sea
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8134189 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Oliver Boisseau (0000-0001-7490-2558), Judith Matz (0009-0003-5198-0344), Anna Moscrop, Richard McLanaghan, Russell Leaper (0000-0002-8712-8925), Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara (0000-0003-0353-617X), Alexandros Frantzis (0000-0001-7117-062X), Simone Panigada (0000-0003-0856-1227) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 26 |
| Pages | 1-32 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-17 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Ethics in Science and Environmental Politics (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1611-8014 • E-ISSN: 1863-5415 |
| Publisher | Inter-Research Science Center (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.3354/esep00233 |
| OpenAlex | W7137945269 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 83 |
The Mediterranean Sea provides habitat for a diverse assemblage of marine species, including 14 resident species of cetacean, 3 species of turtle and the Mediterranean monk seal. Surrounded by densely populated coastlines, marine megafauna in the region are exposed to multiple anthropogenic threats. Alongside a growing awareness of these threats, and national, EU and international legal frameworks to conserve these species and their habitats, there is increasing pressure to exploit hydrocarbon deposits in the region. The exploration and extraction of oil and gas require a precautionary approach to allow effective protection and, where possible, mitigation of impacts on marine life. This paper examines contentious case studies from the Mediterranean where best practice to mitigate harmful effects has not been followed. Even where these failings are not unequivocally in breach of legal obligations, they demonstrate unethical conduct. Recommendations to improve mitigation are presented, including the need to (1) adequately consider the propagation of impacts into local protected areas, (2) update impact assessments (including acoustic modelling) when planned activities change significantly, (3) make documents and timings public prior to starting harmful activities, (4) demonstrate that seismic survey operators are using the lowest possible source levels and number of shots to meet objectives, (5) provide stronger incentives for industry to invest in risk reduction (including a significant increase in financial responsibility), (6) ensure regulatory authorities establish that the relevant guidelines are being followed and (7) make survey reports summarising encounters with marine megafauna publicly accessible in a timely fashion
Climate change · Marine Pollution · Mediterranean climate · Mediterranean sea · Sea level rise · Marine Ecology and Invasive Species · Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses · Oil Spill Detection and Mitigation
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |