Copernicus Ocean State Annual Report

This year's Ocean State Report details changes in the global ocean and European regional seas, with a focus on 2023 and 2024. The report emphasises when the ocean changes, so does everything connected to it: marine ecosystems, society, and the economy. Key insights include:
🔹 No part of the ocean is untouched by climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Rapid ocean warming, acidification, sea level rise, and plastics currently affect all ocean basins.

🔹 Invasive species harm fisheries in the Mediterranean seas. The longest marine heatwave in the last four decades led to surface temperatures up to 4.3°C higher than normal, attracting invasive species and disrupting local fisheries. In certain locations, clam production collapsed between 75-100%.

🔹 Coastal populations are at risk in the Northeastern Atlantic and adjacent seas. Sea level rise is increasing the risk of flooding and erosion in coastal areas - changes that affect regions where around 200 million people live along Europe’s coasts. Many UNESCO World Heritage sites are also at risk.

🔹 Boundaries of biophysical provinces that relate to the biomass of small organisms are shifting, with possible knock-on impacts on global fisheries.

🔹 A record-breaking marine heatwave struck the North Atlantic tropical ocean region throughout 2023. Some areas suffered over 300 days of marine heatwave conditions.

The #OceanStateReport is an annual scientific collaboration involving more than 100 experts from Europe and around world, and compiled by the Copernicus Marine Service. Find the report here: https://marine.copernicus.eu/access-data/ocean-state-report/ocean-state-report-9