Pollutants have closed many beaches and hurt the tourist industry, which is economically significant. International efforts to control pollution have begun. Scandola Nature Reserve, on the west central coast of Corsica, is one of a network of sea and coastal areas that governments bordering the Mediterranean are attempting to preserve or return to their original state.

By the early 21st century, the pace of development on the European shore was raising new environmental concerns. Overuse of groundwater had dramatically lowered the water table and caused seawater to pollute underground aquifers near the coast.

In addition, the accelerated expansion of nonagricultural water usage and the re-grading and paving over of the natural terrain were causing severe erosion and stamping out natural vegetation and cultural traditions dating back to Phoenician and Roman times.

Due to overexploitation, much of the area along the European Mediterranean is turning to desert.