The SINAPSI Project (Seasonal, InternanNual and decadal variability of the AtmosPhere, oceanS and marIne ecosystems) is a multidisciplinary study of the impacts of climate variability on Mediterranean Sea ecosystems. Contributions deal with palaeoclimatology, physical and chemical characteristics of the water column and continental shelf sediments, and effects of climate variability on microalgae, zooplankton and fishes. CR SPECIAL 14 constitutes a stepping stone toward management of the effects of climate change.