Why We Need to Save the Mediterranean

Opinion Article

With over 550 million people living around its shores, the Mediterranean remains one of the world’s most vital economic, cultural and tourism regions. Yet, whether on land or on water, this inland sea - the cradle of so many civilizations - is in peril. Unless we act now, we risk losing one of the planet’s most extraordinary environments to climate change, pollution, overdevelopment, erosion and other forms of neglect.

As a filmmaker, yachtsman and lifelong lover of the sea, I have sailed and worked across the Mediterranean for more than four decades. In my early twenties, I came across WIKI, a wooden sailing ketch built in Kiel, Germany in 1920. She was a wreck when I found her, but over the years, and at great cost, I restored her to her former glory.

Today, WIKI represents far more than a classic yacht; she embodies everything that makes the Mediterranean precious: its beauty, craftsmanship and living history. Representing how the past century has affected its waters and coastal regions, she also reminds me of our shared responsibility to protect this exceptional legacy. And more acutely, particularly for our children and generations to come, the action we need to assume over the next several years before it is too late.

School children learning about the Mediterranean in the port of Monaco.

Together with other concerned sailors, scientists, schoolchildren, business leaders and journalists, I’ve helped set up the HelpSaveTheMed, a multimedia and educational initiative of the Swiss non-profit Global Geneva Group, with WIKI serving as the focus of a three-year odyssey to circumnavigate all 24 Mediterranean countries and regions.

Our goal is to document the threats, celebrate the people fighting to preserve the sea and its crucial coastal areas, and inspire others to act. Through film, storytelling and education, we hope to help a new generation connect with the Mediterranean they will one day inherit. YOU CAN SUPPORT THIS CRUCIAL INITIATIVE BY DONATING.

Whether we live on its shores with its rich cultural heritage ranging from UNESCO sites such as the Old Town of Dubrovnik to the ancient Roman archaeological site of Leptis Magna in Libya, the national parks of Cinque Terre National Park in Italy and Sierra Nevada in Spain, or simply sail its waters, we are all part of the equation. And for those of us privileged to enjoy its beauty, especially yacht owners, charter companies and the tourism industry, we have a duty to give something back.

WIKI, a 105 year-old wooden ketch, sailing the Med.

Five years ago, while sailing off the coast of southern France, I watched plastic debris drift past the bow of my boat. That moment convinced me that I had to act, and to persuade others to do the same. And it is not just about the environment. It is also about artistic wealth, cultural lifestyles, farming and protection of the Mediterranean's increasingly fragile hinterlands, whether wetlands, vineyards and rivers.

We cannot continue to enjoy this extraordinary sea while ignoring its decline. Wildfires now devastate entire regions from Greece and Turkey to Spain and Morocco. Rising seas and saltwater intrusion are eroding ancient sites and farmland. Iconic cultural treasures from Venice to Carthage are at risk. Unsustainable tourism has strained cities like Barcelona, Athens and Santorini, clogging streets, exhausting water supplies and driving up pollution.

Dubrovnik: Cultural heritage is a vital part of the Mediterranean

Scientists estimate that around 730 tonnes of plastic waste enter the Mediterranean every day, and although the sea represents just 1% of global ocean waters, it contains about 7% of the world’s microplastics. More than 1.5 million recreational boats operate here, with over half of all superyachts based in Mediterranean ports during the summer.

The region also hosts 27% of global maritime traffic and nearly 10% of the world’s cruises. These are staggering figures. But what they tell us is that we are loving the sea to death.

But there is hope. Across the Mediterranean, innovative solutions are emerging:

• Cleaner boating: Owners and captains are switching to hybrid propulsion, reducing single-use plastics, and choosing “Blue Flag” marinas that enforce environmental standards.
• Marine restoration: NGOs and local communities are reviving seagrass meadows, which capture carbon and protect young fish stocks.
• Youth engagement: Educational voyages, citizen science and storytelling projects, such as HelpSaveTheMed’s own information initiatives, are helping young people better understand what’s at stake - and empowering them to act.
• Responsible tourism: Coastal resorts and charter companies are adopting sustainability pledges and supporting local conservation work.

Imagine the impact if every yacht owner, marina or club committed even 1% of their annual budget to protecting the sea they enjoy. Small actions, such as reducing waste, supporting marine parks, funding education, and promoting public awareness can add up to a transformation.

This is not about guilt; it’s about legacy. The yachts we sail, the businesses we run, and the adventures we pursue can all contribute to ensuring that our children and grandchildren inherit a living sea, not a dying one.

It’s time to move beyond fine words and well-meaning dinners sipping rosé as the sun sets against a staggering backdrop off Corsica or the Greek islands. The Mediterranean’s future, including our own, depends on firm action, shared responsibility, and the courage to give back to the ‘Med’ – both the sea and its hinterlands - that have given us so much.

Tom Woods is a Paris-based cameraman-director, who has produced numerous television productions over four decades for major networks ranging from the Tour de France and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris to key documentaries from Afghanistan to Haiti. Woods is also founder of the HelpSaveTheMed initiative together with other concerned sailors, writers, filmmakers, scientists and entrepreneurs.

INFO BOX

The Mediterranean at a Glance - and How You Can Help

The Sea

• Home to 510–550 million people and warming 20% faster than the global average.
• Carries 27% of global maritime traffic and around 10% of the world’s cruise ships.
• One of the world’s top biodiversity hotspots, but also one of the most polluted.

Boats & Yachts

• About 1.5 million recreational boats operate in the Mediterranean.
• Over 50% of the world’s superyachts spend summer here; regional marinas offer 400,000+ berths.
• The basin hosts two-thirds of global charter-boat traffic.

Pollution & Pressure

• 730 tonnes of plastic waste flow into the sea every day.
• 95–100% of floating litter is plastic; 60% of beach litter is single-use plastic.
• The Med holds 7% of global microplastics despite its small size.

What to do?

If You Sail Here, You Can Help

1. Clean up your wake
Opt for electric or hybrid propulsion, reduce speed, and maintain engines efficiently.
Adopt a strict no-dumping rule, all waste and bilge to proper facilities.

2. Support “Blue” marinas and clubs
Berth where environmental standards are enforced.
Encourage your club to join a Mediterranean Blue Charter for sustainability.

3. Give back financially
Pledge 1% of your yachting or charter budget to local conservation or youth education projects.

4. Bring youth on board
Sponsor student sailors, scientists or filmmakers.
Offer your vessel for occasional citizen-science work.

5. Use your influence
Make sustainability a badge of pride among yacht owners.
Encourage others to leave the sea cleaner than they found it.

For more information on the WIKI Centennial Expedition, please go to: www.helpsavethemed.org - a project of the. Swiss-registered non-profit association, Global Geneva Group

IF YOU FEEL CONCERNED AND WISH TO HELP, YOU CAN ALSO DONATE