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© RAMPINI / WWF-Italy
Oil and gas in Italy – facts and figures
- Italy is the fourth oil & gas producer in Europe
- It is the third country in terms of reserves
- In 2012 Italy introduced an Energy Strategy that proposed doubling domestic production by 2020 (from 7 to 14 % of national energy demand)
- At the end of 2012 there were 21 active offshore exploration permits and 66 extraction permits
- The oil & gas sector will impact on seafloor integrity and release contaminants, as exploration and drilling activities will disrupt the sea floor and could potentially result in the dispersal of hydrocarbons and other chemical substances
- The sector may also affect biodiversity and foodwebs, with an impact on fauna (e.g. noise effects on cetaceans) and the migration/feeding grounds of fish species.
WWF has been working at a global scale for cetacean conservation and has promoted the creation of marine sanctuaries worldwide. WWF now urges the Spanish government to create a marine sanctuary for whales in the Canary Islands following the recent news that oil company Repsol has abandoned its exploration plans in this marine paradise where more than one third of the planet's cetaceans have been spotted. Join WWF´s petition.

© WWF Spain
© Mathieu Foulquie
Kaş-Kekova: diving into the past
With its ancient sunken cities, coral reefs and darting schools of fish, the Kaş-Kekova marine protected area in southwestern Turkey is a diver's paradise. Kaş was known as a small fishermen’s village until a few years ago. Today the area is developing into an important centre of cultural, yachting and diving tourism. WWF Turkey is working with local authorities and communities to strengthen conservation plans and underwater guidelines for the 30,000-hectare reserve. Recently a sustainable tourism plan was agreed upon for Kaş-Kekova and an MoU was signed by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and WWF Turkey.
Scientists, fishers, NGOs and policy-makers from Europe and beyond addressed this question at a unique event in Barcelona in February. Together, they explored how greater collaboration in fisheries research can contribute to the successful long-term future of fishing in the EU, and in particular co-management. Read more.
Spain has just passed a new fisheries law, which imposes stronger penalties on Spanish citizens involved in pirate fishing anywhere in the world. The law is the translation into Spanish legislation of the EU’s illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing regulation, which requires all EU member States to take action against citizens and companies found to be involved in any IUU fishing activities anywhere in the world. Read more.

© naturepl.com / Frederic Larrey / WWF
interview: a truly regional initiative
Giuseppe Di Carlo is the new Leader of the Mediterranean Marine Initiative. His role is to structure a team of 20 marine staff across 7 Mediterranean countries to build a truly regional marine programme. Here his initial thoughts on the exciting journey he has just begun.
We now have a truly regional vision for the MMI that looks at the complexity of the region as a whole and understands how WWF can make a difference. The Mediterranean Sea remains one of the most threatened parts of the planet and yet one of the most beautiful. We must take action to shape a different future for our sea and we must do it through a regional approach.
And the main priorities in the months to come?
WWF is involved in a diversity of conservation actions across the Mediterranean region, working every day with communities, fishers, governments. We need to continue to work in the field with a bottom-up approach that keeps our feet wet and our organisation relevant. However, there are urgencies at the regional level that cannot be overlooked, for example the growing threat of oil drilling in marine and coastal areas. The MMI team is gearing up to tackle issues like this which can have profound and irreversible impact.

Coming soon: WWF France is co-organising a workshop at the 29th European Cetacean Society Conference in Malta in March on strengthening cooperation for better cetacean conservation in the ACCOBAMS area: working together with common tools.