The conservation of Mediterranean sponge biodiversity has been significantly reinforced following the inclusion of six sponge taxa in Annex II (List of Endangered or Threatened Species) of the Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity (SPA/BD Protocol) of the Barcelona Convention.
The amendments, adopted by the Contracting Parties during COP24 and entering into force on 4 May 2026, strengthen the regional legal framework for the conservation of Mediterranean sponge diversity. The newly protected taxa include habitat-forming species and recognised indicators of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs), reflecting their fundamental role in maintaining the biodiversity and functioning of Mediterranean marine ecosystems.
This important conservation achievement builds directly upon the scientific work carried out within Work Package 5 – Management tools for sustainable conservation of sponge ecosystems of the Biodiversa+ project SponBIODIV. Based on the evidence generated by the project, WP5 experts prepared proposals for the inclusion of sponge taxa in Annex II.
The proposals were submitted through the National Focal Points of Greece and Spain, acting on behalf of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention. Following scientific evaluation by the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (SPA/RAC) and subsequent adoption by the Contracting Parties, the amendments entered into force in May 2026, providing enhanced legal protection for Mediterranean sponge species throughout the region.
Together, these achievements illustrate how SponBIODIV successfully translated cutting-edge scientific knowledge into concrete conservation policy, strengthening the protection of one of the Mediterranean’s most important but least known groups of marine invertebrates.
Read more:
SPA/BD Protocol
https://spa-rac.org/en/the-center/spa-bd-protocol/
Entry into Force of the Amendments to the Barcelona Convention SPA/BD Protocol Annexes adopted by COP24
