A new scientific article summarizing Israel’s strategic plan to conserve 30% of its deep-sea territory has been published in the prestigious journal Ocean and Coastal Management — and we are proud to be among the leading contributors.
The article, initiated by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) and developed in close scientific collaboration with the School of Marine Sciences, presents an innovative planning process: the development of a network of ten marine protected areas (MPAs) within Israel’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Mediterranean Sea. This effort marks a key step in advancing Israel’s commitment to the 30×30 global target (protecting 30% of marine areas by 2030) and to UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 focused on marine conservation.
The next phase of the project is already underway. With support from the international organization OCEANS, implementation has begun through advanced deep-sea surveys using cutting-edge technology:
ROV – a remotely operated vehicle for imaging and data collection at depths of up to 1,000 meters.
AUV – an autonomous underwater vehicle for detailed seafloor mapping.
In January 2025, we completed a survey in the proposed MPA “Central Slope,” revealing a rich and fragile underwater world. The findings highlight the urgent need to protect Israel’s deep-sea environment — before it’s too late.
We will continue working to promote the official declaration of these protected areas as part of a global effort to preserve marine ecosystems for future generations.
We are proud of the School of Marine Sciences researchers who contributed to this study:
Prof. Yizhaq Makovsky (scientific lead), Dr. Maxim Rubin-Blum, Dr. Or Bialik, Dr. Yigal Bernstein, and graduate students Merav Gilboa and Adi Newman.
