The deep seas are the waters and oceans’ seabeds beneath 200m depth. They encompass 78% of the Mediterranean Sea and more than 65% of the Earth’s surface, and are vital for life on the planet. These vast underwater realms harbour 95% of the Earth’s biosphere. Despite their significance, the deep seas remain largely unexplored, with 66% of species yet to be discovered.

The biodiversity of the deep Mediterranean Sea depends on the diversity of its habitats: submarine canyons and seamounts, continental rise deposits, mud volcanoes, and extreme environments such as hydrothermal vents and cold seeps.

Even seemingly ‘featureless’ soft-bottom habitats host unique and vulnerable species and habitats (such as sponge fields, gorgonian and deep-water coral).

ACT NOW TO PROTECT DEEP SEA ECOSYSTEMS