The study, which comprehensively assesses the environmental status of all European Union (EU) marine waters, indicates that, in general, European seas are "far from achieving the Good Environmental Status objective," as defined in the European bloc's Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

The Western Mediterranean "has the lowest ecological status index [relating to the health of ecosystems and the sustainability of a territory] in Europe," according to the AZTI Scientific and Technological Centre, which specializes in the marine environment and coordinated the study.

The Alboran Sea, the westernmost part of the Mediterranean, has "the highest-pressure index among the areas assessed, reflecting a significant intensity of human impacts, such as intensive fishing, maritime traffic, and pollution," it adds.

Funded by the EU, the analysis warns of "structural flaws in marine protection," calling for urgent action "to avoid irreversible damage to ecosystems."