The oceans have long supported human societies by providing essential ecosystem services. Their economic contribution is expected to double between 2010 and 2030. However, anthropogenic pressures undermine marine biodiversity, compromising the ability of the marine ecosystem to provide ecosystem services and affecting human well-being. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are recognized worldwide as effective tools for biodiversity conservation, food security, societal welfare and climate mitigation, not in isolation, but in addition to other conservation initiatives. The Mediterranean basin, despite its ecological and cultural-historical importance, is under strong human pressure and significant environmental degradation. Despite the 30×30 objectives of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the European Biodiversity Strategy, the current MPA coverage remains critically insufficient (<9% designated, <1% fully protected). In addition, many AMPs suffer from poor design and application, compromising their social, economic and ecological effectiveness. Seven strategic actions are proposed here, including (i) national policy mobilisation, (ii) strengthening regional cooperation, (iii) aligning objectives and implementation tools at national and regional level, (iv) ratifying the Biodiversity Agreement beyond national jurisdiction, (v) expanding and improving the management of LMPAs, (vi) establishing legal frameworks, and (vii) diversifying funding sources. We argue here that achieving the 30×30 objectives strongly requires a coordinated approach at the basin level that integrates ecological, social, economic and cultural dimensions.
