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crustaceans with 13.2% and fish with 10.9%. An average of 28% of all species is endemic
(Zenetos et al. 2002).

Of course, not all of these species are present on the high seas beyond the 12 n.m. limit of current
territorial sea jurisdictions, but some of those that do frequent the High Seas are described below.
These include a rich selection of marine top predators (also known as “charismatic megafauna”),
having a special conservation importance by virtue of their flagship and umbrella species qualities.

The Mediterranean is host to a relatively diverse chondrichthyan fish fauna, with an estimated 80
species (approximately 7% of total living Chondrichthyans), comprising 45 species of sharks from
17 families, 34 batoid species from nine families and one species of chimaera (Cavanagh and
Gibson 2007). Such fauna includes breeding populations of highly charismatic species such as
great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias), basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus), and giant
devil rays (Mobula mobular), all of which are listed in Annex II of the Protocol concerning the
Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity to the Barcelona Convention (UNEP/MAP;
RAC/SPA 2003a). A recent IUCN Red List assessment of the Mediterranean chondrichthyan
fauna has determined that 42% of the species are considered threatened, of which 18% are
critically endangered, 11% are endangered and 13% are vulnerable (Cavanagh and Gibson 2007).
Ferretti et al. (2008) estimated that hammerhead (Sphyrna spp.), blue shark (Prionace glauca),
mackerel shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) and porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus), and thresher shark
(Alopias vulpinus) have declined today in the Mediterranean between 96 and 99.99% relative to
their former abundance. Such dramatic decline, caused almost entirely by unsustainable levels of
exploitation over the last decades, might be reversed in part through the establishment of High
Seas MPAs encompassing these species’ critical habitats.

The loggerhead (Caretta caretta), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and green (Chelonia
mydas) marine turtles are all found in the region, and listed in Annex II of the Protocol concerning
the Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity to the Barcelona Convention (UNEP/MAP;
RAC/SPA 1989). While the loggerhead seaturtle remains relatively abundant, it seems to have
deserted many parts of the Western Basin where it is disturbed by fishing activity. The other two
species are becoming increasingly rare. Nesting sites for an isolated, critically endangered
population of the herbivorous and migratory green seaturtle can be found in Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt
and Libya. There are only a total of 2,000 nesting females at these sites and this number is
declining. The leatherback turtle is rarely seen in the Mediterranean, although there are some
breeding records for Israel and Sicily. Important nesting sites for the loggerhead seaturtle are
located on the coast from Turkey to Israel, on a number of Mediterranean islands, and at scattered
sites along the North African coast.

The Mediterranean is of significant importance for migratory bird species. According to the
Mediterranean Action Plan, some 150 migratory bird species biannually cross the narrow natural
passages in the regions of Gibraltar, Cap Bon (Tunisia), Messina (Italy), Belen Pass (Turkey), the
Lebanese coast and the Suez Isthmus, taking advantage of the wetlands occurring on their way
(Ramade 1990). Pelagic bird species in the Mediterranean are relatively few, however colonies of
Cory’s shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea diomedea), Levantine shearwaters (Puffinus yelkouan),
Balearic shearwaters (P. mauretanicus), and storm petrels (Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis) can
still be found breeding along sea-cliffs or on small isolated rocky islands and islets (UNEP MAP
RAC/SPA 2003b). Therefore, conservation of these species’ feeding grounds in the Mediterranean
High Seas will have to be coupled with conservation of the corresponding breeding grounds,
clearly illustrating the need for networks of MPAs that will take into account the seasonally different