Silvia and the Tropicalization of the Mediterranean: Alien Species, a Warmer Sea and a Hope That Is Still Possible

Silvia opens with a reflection on how we perceive marine life. Fish, she observes, has above all a cultural value, because we eat it. Whales and dolphins, on the other hand, have a "much more human" quality, because we recognize emotions in them. Species that don't stir this kind of engagement are left out of public attention. To explain this, she uses the example of a plant that doesn't produce the most beautiful flower: on a species like that, she says, the government would never invest a single cent. In her view, environmental protection often depends on how attractive or relatable a species seems to us, rather than on its role in the ecosystem.

According to Silvia, as temperatures rise, more and more alien species are being observed every day. The example she gives is the scorpionfish, or lionfish, which was particularly common during the months when the documentary was filmed. She describes it as a large generalist predator that reproduces very quickly. The main problem, she explains, is that there is no natural predator in the area capable of controlling its spread.

Silvia doesn't attribute this phenomenon to the climate alone. She also points to human activities, in particular the opening of the Suez Canal, which she says allowed many tropical species to enter the Mediterranean.

The narrator, speaking in French, adds some data. At the beginning of August, the water temperature off Mallorca reached 33 degrees, a record value. According to the documentary, the Mediterranean is warming twice as fast as the oceans, partly because it is an inland sea. Only the Strait of Gibraltar connects it to the cooler Atlantic, and water exchange between the two basins is very limited. These high temperatures are altering the underwater habitat: invasive species are spreading and some local fish are migrating to other regions.

The documentary shows some of the research activities. In kayaks, Silvia and her colleagues collect plankton samples with a net to study organisms that are part of the ecosystem and the food chain. The group also monitors bottom trawling, which Silvia considers one of the main problems. She explains that fish and invertebrates grow in deep coral reefs and that these environments have been destroyed for years.

Silvia acknowledges that hers may seem like "the most beautiful job in the world," but she points out that it is very demanding. A single dive isn't enough to understand the ecosystem or what happens underwater: many observations are needed to grasp how different phenomena are connected to one another. For her, it is a passion first and a job second. She describes Archipelagos as a dynamic, multicultural group made up of people with a vision similar to her own. With those who work all day and stay longer, she says, you end up forming a very close bond.

Silvia stresses that the climate crisis is not an isolated event, but the consequence of all our actions. Those who suffer its effects, she emphasizes, are above all us: water shortages, drought, heat waves and the problems associated with tropical storms.

She also criticizes the tourism model. Greece is one of the most visited destinations, and she finds it "ridiculous" that some islands aspire to become as touristy as Mykonos. She proposes a "smarter" tourism that is more respectful of the environment. Among the pressures on the ecosystem, she lists fish consumption, the number of boats and cars, and the industries that continue to emit greenhouse gases. As she describes it, all of this leaves the ecosystem increasingly stressed and "stretched to the limit."

On top of these factors comes urban wastewater discharge, which according to Silvia is present throughout the Mediterranean. Bacteria can cause problems for swimmers and alter the chemistry of the water. For her, these are interconnected effects.

In closing, Silvia admits that there are days when she is pessimistic and doesn't believe things can be changed, even though she thinks just a few actions would be enough. On good days, however, she believes that the fight to protect the environment can help save the planet. We only have one, she reminds us, and we can't have another. Her conclusion is that she still holds on to the hope that the situation can improve.