地中海因气候变暖正面临前所未有的生态危机。科学家称约1000种入侵物种已在地中海被确认，其中800种已定居[1]。这些物种大幅冲击本地生态，东地中海浅滩的软体动物种群已减少93%[1]，而亚得里亚海沿岸的贻贝几乎全部死亡，当地海温曾超过30摄氏度[1]。
入侵物种主要通过苏伊士运河进入地中海，随后迅速向西方扩张。狮子鱼于2012年首次在东地中海被记录，之后向西蔓延至法国和西班牙等地[1]。斑点河豚鱼等其他具有破坏性的物种也已入侵[1]。气候变化加剧了这一问题，地中海水温预计到2100年将上升2至6摄氏度[1]，这为更多适应温暖环境的物种创造了生存条件。
意大利海洋生物资源与生技研究所的埃内斯托·阿祖罗表示："我们祖父、长辈和古代希腊人的地中海已永远消失了"[1]。专家认为可以通过国际条约执法处理进港船舶压舱水来遏制新入侵物种，这一措施可减少新物种入侵的可能性95至99%[1]。
The Mediterranean Sea is experiencing an unprecedented ecological crisis as rising temperatures attract hundreds of invasive species into its waters, fundamentally transforming the region's marine ecosystem. Scientists have confirmed approximately 1,000 invasive species in the Mediterranean, with around 800 already established populations [1]. Water temperatures are projected to rise between 2 and 6 degrees Celsius by 2100 [1].
The impact on local marine life has been dramatic. Soft-bodied mollusk populations in eastern Mediterranean shallows have declined by 93 percent [1], while mussels along the Adriatic coast have suffered near-total mortality following water temperatures that exceeded 30 degrees Celsius [1]. Invasive species such as lionfish, first documented in the eastern Mediterranean in 2012, have subsequently expanded westward rapidly [1], with spotted pufferfish and other non-native species entering through the Suez Canal and spreading toward France and Spain [1].
The transformation has prompted stark assessments from marine scientists. Ernesto Azzuro of Italy's Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology stated: "The Mediterranean of our grandfathers, elders, and ancient Greeks is gone forever" [1]. Experts have proposed targeted interventions, suggesting that enforcing international treaties to manage ballast water from incoming ships could reduce new invasive species by 95 to 99 percent [1].