觀光對地中海環境的衝擊
本文取自世界自然保育聯盟（IUCN）於2017年3月出版的《Environmental information in the Mediterranean》一書
翻譯：賴鵬智
根據地中海環保組織「藍色方案」（Blue Plan）統計，觀光是地中海區域帶動經濟發展的引擎，在2012年創造了850萬個工作機會，沿海地區則經由觀光與休閒活動帶進2500億歐元收入。
Tourism is the economic engine of the Mediterranean, a sector that generated almost 8.5 million jobs in 2012 and 250 billion euros in income from recreational activities and tourism in coastal areas, according to the Blue Plan.
地中海是世界首選陽光與沙灘的旅遊地，當地人也希望繼續吸引更多更多的遊客前來，搭乘郵輪與休閒船舶的觀光型態更是大幅成長。
The Mediterranean is the leading sun and sand destination in the world, and it is expected to attract more and more tourists. Cruise shipping and recreational boating are among the types of tourism that have increased the most.
觀光與休閒活動對環境與自然資源帶來無比的壓力。最明顯的影響就是因酒店與運動休閒遊艇碼頭的發展而造成沿岸都市化。地中海大多數已開發的海岸地區分屬於法國、西班牙、義大利及賽普勒斯。根據「世界自然基金會」（WWF）調查統計，地中海46,000公里長的海岸線已經有超過40％因水泥化而消失，並預估以現在都市化的速度，50％的自然海岸將在2025年以前消失。
This activity results in a series of significant pressures on the environment and natural resources. The most significant is coastal urbanization for hotels and sport marinas. The most developed coasts in the Mediterranean belong to France, Spain, Italy and Cyprus. According to WWF, more than 40% of the 46,000 kilometres of Mediterranean coast has been lost under a layer of concrete and, at the present rate of urbanization; it will reach 50% by 2025.
都市增長、交通運輸、能源需求、產業基礎建設與集約農業等，在在造成地中海美麗地景的消失與零碎化。爆量的觀光發展與假日旅宿正威脅著僅剩保存良好的海岸區域。
Urban growth, transport, energy, industrial infrastructure and intensive agriculture are leading to the loss and fragmentation of Mediterranean landscapes. The massive development of tourism and holiday homes is threatening the last remnants of well-conserved coastal areas.
污染是觀光帶來的另一項嚴重傷害。郵輪每年將8億公升未經處理的廢污水倒入海裡，而運動休閒遊艇雖然看起來排放量應該少一點，但實際上也不遑多讓。
Pollution is another of the most harmful consequences of tourism. Cruise ships alone discharge 800 million litres of contaminated water into the sea every year with no treatment at all. The polluting effect of sport boating is also substantial, though to a lesser extent.
美國環境保護署估計一艘郵輪載客3千，每週將產生超過50萬公升的廢污水。地中海是全球郵輪觀光重鎮之一，2013年大約有2700萬旅客造訪地中海沿岸港口，而這數字有可能會繼續攀升。
The US Environmental Protection Agency reckons that a cruise ship carrying around 3,000 people generates more than 500,000 litres of waste water per week. The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most important cruising areas in the world. Around 27 million passengers visited Mediterranean ports in 2013, and the number is expected to rise.
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