The 9th Global Sea Forum is set to convene in Bizerte, Tunisia, on September 24-25, 2026. The event is organized by the SHARE4MED project, the Mediterranean Circular Economy Network, Circe.Med/ADEME, and the Blue Season association. The forum aims to bring together researchers, diplomats, entrepreneurs, and civil society representatives from across the Mediterranean region to tackle plastic pollution. The Mediterranean Sea, covering only 1% of the world's ocean surface, accounts for approximately 7% of global microplastics.
The Mediterranean Sea faces a significant threat from plastic pollution, with around 230,000 tons of plastic waste entering the sea annually, endangering 17,000 endemic species. According to the OECD, global plastic production reached 500 million tons in 2024 and is projected to double by 2050. Currently, less than 20% of global plastic production is recycled. The forum seeks to address this issue and promote a Mediterranean free of plastic.
Pascal Lamy, President of the Global Sea Forum, emphasized the Mediterranean's vulnerability to pollution, comparing it to the poles in terms of climate change. Rym Benzina, President of the Blue Season association and Forum director, highlighted the collective nature of the event, which aims to develop concrete solutions through collaboration among local authorities, scientists, entrepreneurs, and civil society actors.
The two-day forum will focus on territorial cooperation, scientific research, and the presentation of projects and initiatives. The first day will feature the European SHARE4MED project's presentation and a workshop with Tunisian and Mediterranean municipal representatives. The second day will include sessions on scientific knowledge, the Tunisian situation, and the positions of Mediterranean states and the European Union.
The SHARE4MED project, funded by the Interreg NEXT MED program and co-financed by the European Union, supports the European Mission for the Oceans by helping municipalities, particularly small ones, implement green initiatives for a sustainable Mediterranean. The Blue Season association, created in 2018, aims to promote Tunisia's maritime potential and the blue economy while raising awareness about the vulnerability of the coastline and sea.
The forum also features the presentation of the Plastic Credit Bourse, designed to self-finance green infrastructure. The Mediterranean Circular Economy Network, which brings together organizations involved in the transition to ecologically safe and socially just functioning, will also be present. The network aims to promote and implement a circular economy based on the efficient use of resources.
The Global Sea Forum in Bizerte aims to amplify the Mediterranean's voice in the face of plastic pollution. As negotiations for an international treaty on plastic pollution have stalled since 2022, the forum seeks to emphasize the urgency of the issue and promote collective action to address it. The event is expected to contribute to the development of concrete solutions to combat plastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea.
Key points
- The Mediterranean Sea accounts for 7% of global microplastics despite covering only 1% of the world's ocean surface.
- Global plastic production is projected to double by 2050, reaching 1 billion tons annually.
- The forum aims to develop concrete solutions through collaboration among stakeholders to combat plastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea.
