Understanding IMAP
The Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) is the common programme Mediterranean countries use, under the Barcelona Convention, to assess the health of the Mediterranean Sea and coast. It translates the Ecosystem Approach (EcAp) into a concrete framework: a list of Ecological Objectives (EOs), Common Indicators (CIs), and Good Environmental Status (GES) definitions that each country commits to monitoring.
The Process: From fieldwork to environmental policy
IMAP’s value is twofold: it gives countries and organizations a shared language and harmonized methods for measuring the state of the sea, and it feeds directly into regional environmental policy decisions through the Mediterranean Quality Status Report (MED QSR).
1⏵ Data collection
Identifying areas of expertise and fields of action helps strengthen collective impact and avoid duplication of efforts.
2⏵ Quality assurance
Working towards common strategic frameworks and priorities contributes to more coherent action across the Mediterranean.
3⏵ Regional analysis
Data from all countries is compiled and analyzed using the common methodology.
4⏵ MED QSR
Findings feeds the Mediterranean Quality Status Report, published every IMAP cycle (every 8 years).
5⏵ Policy
The MED QSR shapes national action plans and regional environmental policy for the next cycle.
SPA/RAC contribution
The SPA/RAC prioritizes its efforts on a specific set of Ecological Objectives and Common Indicators that are closely associated with biodiversity, non-indigenous species, marine food webs, sea-floor integrity, and marine and coastal litter. The comprehensive list of Ecological Objectives and Common Indicators is accessible on Decision IG.27/6, which was adopted at the 2025 COP24 of the Barcelona Convention.
Explore the indicators
Examine a selection of indicators, organized by their corresponding Ecological Objective, and how they connects to what’s actually monitored.
EO1 Biological diversity
Biological diversity is maintained or enhanced. The quality and occurrence of coastal and marine habitats and the distribution and abundance of coastal and marine species are in line with prevailing physiographic, hydrographic, geographic and climatic conditions.
Note: The Factsheets of the Common Indicators presented in this section are currently being finalized. These draft documents have been revised during the Meeting of the Ecosystem Approach Correspondence Group on Monitoring (CORMON) Biodiversity and Fisheries held in June 2026. They will undergo further revisions through a series of institutional meetings (CORMON, SPA/BD Focal Points meeting, EcAp Coordinating Group) until their final adoption at COP25 of the Barcelona Convention by the end of 2027.
CI1 — Habitat distributional range
Main habitats concerned:
- Posidonia oceanica
- Rhodolith beds
- Coralligenous assemblages
CI2 — Condition of typical species & communities
Main benthic habitats concerned:
- Posidonia oceanica
- Rhodolith beds
- Coralligenous assemblages
CI3 — Species distributional range
Main species concerned and related factsheets:
- Marine birds (UNEP/MED WG.641/4)
- Reptiles – Sea turtles (UNEP/MED WG.641/5)
- Marine Mammals - Cetaceans (UNEP/MED WG.641/6 Rev. 1)
- Marine Mammals - Monk seals (UNEP/MED WG.641/7)
CI4 — Population abundance
Main species concerned and related factsheets:
- Marine birds (UNEP/MED WG.641/4)
- Reptiles – Sea turtles (UNEP/MED WG.641/5)
- Marine Mammals - Cetaceans (UNEP/MED WG.641/6 Rev. 1)
- Marine Mammals - Monk seals (UNEP/MED WG.641/7)
CI5 — Population demographics
Main species concerned and related factsheets:
- Marine birds (UNEP/MED WG.641/4)
- Reptiles – Sea turtles (UNEP/MED WG.641/5)
- Marine Mammals - Cetaceans (UNEP/MED WG.641/6 Rev. 1)
- Marine Mammals - Monk seals (UNEP/MED WG.641/7)
EO2 Non-Indigenous Species
Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) introduced by human activities are at levels that do not adversely alter the ecosystem.
Note: The Factsheet of the Common Indicator presented in this section is being updated. This document was prepared for the 8th Meeting of the Ecosystem Approach Coordination Group held in September 2021.
CI6 — Trends in abundance, temporal occurrence, and spatial distribution of NIS
Species concerned: non-indigenous species particularly invasive, non-indigenous species notably in risk areas
Related factsheets: UNEP/MED WG.514/10
EO4 Marine Food Webs
Alterations to components of marine food webs caused by resource extraction or human- induced environmental changes do not have long- term adverse effects on food web dynamics and related viability.
Note: All the Common Indicators listed in this section are currently in the « Candidate » status (not yet adopted by the COP of the Barcelona Convention), and their corresponding factsheets are still under development.
Candidate CI29 - Biomass or abundance of species/genera/taxa or trophic groups
Candidate CI31 - Biodiversity indices
Candidate CI32 - Pelagic/Demersal ratio
Candidate CI33 - NIS/Demersal ratio
Candidate CI34 - Zooplankton/ phytoplankton ratio
Candidate CI35 - Size distribution of trophic groups
Candidate CI36 - Production of Megafauna (*Megafauna variables from EO1)
EO6 Sea-floor integrity
Sea-floor integrity is maintained, especially in priority benthic habitats.
Note: All the Common Indicators listed in this section are currently in the « Candidate » status (not yet adopted by the COP of the Barcelona Convention), and their corresponding factsheets are still under development.
Candidate CI37 - Extent of physical loss of natural habitat
EO10 Marine and coastal litter
Marine and coastal litter do not adversely affect coastal and marine environment.
Note: The updated Factsheet of the Common Indicator presented in this section is currently being finalized. This draft document has been revised during the Joint Meeting of the Ecosystem Approach Correspondence Groups on Monitoring (CORMONs) Pollution and Marine Litter held in July 2026. It will undergo further revisions through a series of institutional meetings until its final adoption at COP25 of the Barcelona Convention by the end of 2027.
CI24 - Marine turtles Ingestion and Entanglement
Main species concerned and related factsheets: marine turtles (UNEP/MED WG.647/9)
Update date: August 31, 2026