Latest news with #MarineProtectedAreas
BBC News
4 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Sharks and oysters will be more common in warmer UK waters say scientists
Could the UK start to see more sharks in its seas?Well, scientists say that endangered sharks, rays and oysters are just some of the species that could increase their numbers around the UK waters as ocean temperatures rise. The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) looked at how 19 threatened marine species will respond to the change in UK seas by says many creatures could find new homes in parts of the North Sea predicted to become biodiversity hotspots in the next 50 years, but other species would struggle to adapt, researchers found. According to experts, oceans across the world have reached record temperatures in the last few world's oceans are warming as they have absorbed up to 90% of the additional heating created when humans burn fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas, explained BBC climate reporter Georgina UK seas are among 20 places globally that have warmed fastest over the past 50 years, she analysis aims to guide the government as it plans how to ensure so-called Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) continue to protect species even as they change habitat. This study, published in the journal Marine Biology, looked at more species that could flourish. Spurdog sharks, basking sharks and thornbacks - a type of ray with spines and oysters were all predicted to do well. But a type of clam that can live more than 500 years, was predicted to struggle in a warmer climate. And a small creature called a sea pen, which helps to build reefs, could lose up to 40% of their suitable habitat with 75 years. The loss of creatures like this could have a knock-on effect on food chains and eco-systems. Scientists also warned that in order for the creatures do well, people will need to do their part to look after the John Pinnegar, Principal Scientist and Lead Advisor on climate change at Cefas said: "The seas still need to be managed carefully and other pressures reduced if the creatures are to thrive in new habitats," he said.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Endangered rays, sharks and native oysters 'could thrive' despite climate change, report claims
Endangered rays, sharks and native oysters could thrive in seas around the UK in the decades ahead amid changing conditions in the oceans - but other common species could become rare, according to a study. Researchers looked at 19 threatened marine species in UK seas and the impact they could face from climate change. The results suggested an "overall increase" in suitable habitat for the study's selected species, although said any projected change for many was "relatively small". Some species will "move or shift" to new areas in response to rising ocean temperatures and this will have an impact on how they are managed and protected, the study added. Many species are anticipated to lose habitat with climate change, researchers said. Maintaining or increasing the numbers of vulnerable animals around the UK might require additional management methods. Projecting habitat changes into the future has "a number of uncertainties" and species may find "favourable" new areas, but the conditions could then "move" to zones which are "not suitable" for species to survive. The report, published in the Marine Biology journal, said although rays, sharks and oysters could become less threatened - there were risks for other species. "Spurdog, thornback and undulate rays and native oyster showed the largest increases in suitable habitat this century, whereas decreases were seen in the slender sea pen, ocean quahog, sea fan and fan mussel," said the report. "The increases were concentrated in the central and northern North Sea and the decreases to the south and west of the UK, as well as in the southern North Sea." Some species may thrive in new areas not currently protected from human disturbance, scientists said. But some currently protected sites "may no longer remain viable in protecting their designated features in the future". "Some of these changes may become apparent relatively quickly, with substantial changes in suitable habitat evident from the 2030s and 2040s," researchers said. Read more from Sky News: The government is currently consulting on measures for fishing in Marine Protected Areas, which are designated parts of the ocean set up to protect habitats, species and ecosystems. Researchers at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science compiled the report in consultation with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Natural England, and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Sharks and oysters set to thrive in warmer UK waters
The UK could see a boom in endangered sharks, rays and native oysters as species move habitats to respond to rising ocean temperatures, according to some, including a clam that is the world's longest living animal, could struggle to at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science mapped for the first time how 19 threatened marine species will respond to climate change in UK creatures could find new homes in parts of the North Sea predicted to become biodiversity hotspots in the next 50 years, although the disruption from climate change could also have negative knock-on effects on the marine ecosystem. In May an intense heatwave warmed UK waters up to 4 degrees warmer than usual."As an island nation, we're hugely reliant on the sea for our food and for jobs. Any changes that we see in our seas are particularly impactful," Bryony Townhill, marine scientist at Cefas, told BBC analysis should guide the government as it plans how to ensure so-called Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) continue to protect species even as they change world's oceans are warming as they have absorbed up to 90% of the additional heating created when humans burn fossil fuels like oil, coal and UK seas are a hotspot for these effects of climate change and are among 20 places globally that have warmed fastest over the past 50 communities and sea swimmers have already noticed the difference, with reports of jellyfish swarming near beaches or Mediterranean octopus hauled up in fish this report, scientists looked at two different projections for sea temperatures, salinity and sediment levels until 2060. They compared the changing ocean environment to the preferred habitats of 19 species that are currently vulnerable in the biggest winners are the native oysters, basking sharks, spurdog sharks - which can grow up to 1.6 meters - and thornbacks - a type of ray with mobile species will cope better, whereas static creatures will find it harder to adapt.A small creature called a sea pen, which helps to build reefs, could lose up to 40% of their suitable habitat by the end of the the ocean quahog, a type of clam that can live more than 500 years, making it the longest living animal, is predicted to struggle.A decline in those species could have knock-on impacts on ecosystems and food scientists were surprised by some of the results."I didn't expect that native oysters would do well. Frankly, they've been declining and disappearing for 100 years - and yet the climate model suggests they should be doing fine and perhaps even thriving," says Prof Pinnegar. But he is careful to add that although there are potential new habitats, these vulnerable species must still be protected from threats like fishing equipment, disease or pollution."We're not necessarily promising an increase in numbers - the seas still need to be managed carefully and other pressures reduced if the creatures are to thrive in new habitats," he movement of these 19 marine species is likely to have a knock-on effect on coastal communities in the North Sea, including potentially bigger fish catches, according to Dr findings are published in the science journal Marine Biology.
Euronews
13-06-2025
- Science
- Euronews
The race to 30x30: How far behind are we on ocean protection?
In 2022, the world made the groundbreaking commitment to protect at least 30 per cent of all land and sea by 2030. But, as the vital role of oceans in fighting climate change becomes clearer, a pressing question remains - how much of our marine environment still needs safeguarding to reach that goal? According to new research from Dynamic Planet and National Geographic Pristine Seas, far more than governments are currently prepared to commit. For the first time, experts have quantified the vast gap between the roughly 8 per cent of global oceans currently under some kind of protection and the 30 per cent target. To close this gap, they say 85 new coastal marine protected areas (MPAs) would need to be established every day until 2030. The study estimates the world needs around 190,000 small MPAs in coastal areas, plus 300 large MPAs in remote offshore waters to meet the 30x30 target. 'Our analysis, which covers over 13,000 MPAs worldwide, quickly revealed how far behind the world really is,' says Juan Mayorga, a co-author of the study and marine data scientist at National Geographic Pristine Seas. 'The exact number of additional MPAs needed depends on their size and the standards for what counts as truly protected, but the scale of the challenge is undeniable.' Marine Protected Areas, or MPAs, are sections of the ocean where human activity is more strictly managed to protect natural or cultural resources. Similar to national parks on land, they aim to conserve marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and cultural heritage, while sometimes also supporting the sustainable use of marine resources within their bounds. MPAs vary in purpose and level of protection. Some are fully protected, prohibiting fishing, drilling, or other extractive activities, allowing marine life to thrive without human interference. Others may allow limited, sustainable use of resources such as small-scale fishing or tourism under regulation. But the primary goal is to preserve important habitats and fragile ecosystems like coral reefs, seagrass beds, and breeding grounds for fish, turtles, and other species. According to the study's authors, coastal MPAs are especially crucial, as most biodiversity and human activity concentrate near the shore. Reaching the target, they say, will require massive commitments from countries with extensive coastlines and marine territories such as Indonesia, Canada, Russia and the United States. The highest need is in East Asia and the Pacific, where 102 large and 75,000 small MPAs are required. A total of 65 large and 33,000 small MPAs are needed across Europe, South Asia, and the Coral Triangle - a biodiverse region encompassing Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and others. On paper, it appears that some countries have already met the target, but far more action is needed to ensure these areas are truly protected. Nations like Australia, Chile, France and the UK have already surpassed the 30 per cent protection threshold for their waters. But France and the UK accomplished this with a heavy reliance on creating MPAs in their overseas territories. This raises concerns over effective enforcement and impacts on local communities. Many existing protected areas aren't effective either. In the EU, 80 per cent of MPAs lack proper management and offer minimal protection from damaging human activities. So widespread is the problem that many individual country governments and even the EU itself are facing legal action for allowing damaging fishing practices like bottom trawling in these areas. The creation of protected areas has accelerated as concern over ocean health grows. A slew of commitments have been made at the UN Ocean Conference this week, with many governments using the opportunity to unveil new MPAs on the international stage. Colombia, another country that has already surpassed the 30 per cent target, announced the protection of two of the most remote coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea. Together, the new Serranilla and Bajo Nuevo MPAs encompass 3,800 square kilometres, home to a dazzling array of sealife. The Government of Tanzania announced the designation of two new MPAs in highly biodiverse waters off Pemba Island. The North-East Pemba Conservation Area and the South-East Pemba Conservation Area together span over 1,300 square kilometres and protect vital coral reefs, seagrasses, mangroves, and the habitat of threatened sharks and rays. And President Moetai Brotherson of French Polynesia announced the creation of the world's largest MPA, covering almost 5 million square kilometres. Once implemented, the designation will safeguard 220,000 square kilometres near the Society Islands and 680,000 square kilometres near the Gambier Islands. In addition to these fully protected areas where all activity is prohibited, additional artisanal fishing zones will expand the overall protection to 1,086,000 square kilometres, an area around twice the size of continental France. While these are landmark commitments, experts warn that progress remains far too slow. Most countries have not even outlined how they plan to meet the 30x30 target. 'The pace of implementation of marine protected areas is totally inadequate for what the world needs,' says Enric Sala, co-author of the study and founder of National Geographic Pristine Seas. 'We've had too many conferences full of speeches and good intentions; now we need leadership and real action. Without more effective protection now, the ocean won't be able to continue providing for us, especially for coastal communities in the Global South who are already suffering from overfishing and global warming.'
Euronews
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
EU court upholds ban on deep-sea fishing in Atlantic
A ban on deep-sea fishing in parts of the Atlantic rich with marine life has been upheld by the EU's General Court. It means these areas will remain restricted to help preserve vulnerable species and ecosystems. The decision comes after the same court ruled last month in a German case that Marine Protected Areas must be protected from bottom trawling. Separate legal actions were filed by the Spanish government and fishermen from Galicia and Asturias who challenged a 2016 EU rule that banned fishing with nets and longlines in 87 areas of the Atlantic off the coasts of Spain, Ireland, Portugal and France. When the rules came into effect in 2022, Spain sued the European Commission, claiming that it failed to consider the economic damage to fishermen. It also questioned the scientific methods used to determine how banned fishing gear and protected areas were chosen. The rules were adopted by the EU to conserve fish stocks in the deep sea and to protect marine life from fishing gear being dragged along the sea floor. Among other things, these regulations outlaw the controversial fishing practice of bottom trawling below a depth of 800 metres in these parts of the north-east Atlantic. Species found at depth in the oceans, such as alfonsinos, black scabbardfish, roundnose grenadier, red seabream and some shark species, collapse quickly because they are vulnerable to fishing and slow to reproduce, according to the EU. The court stressed that the decision to protect these areas was in line with EU law. In its ruling, it said that the 87 areas were chosen because of the 'proven or provable presence of protected species'. Due to the vulnerability of these areas, it said that regulators were not required to assess whether some kinds of fishing gear were less damaging or the economic impact on fishermen. The ruling also allows the European Commission to continue using scientific input from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea in determining future conservation areas. Lawyers from environmental organisation ClientEarth say the ruling is likely to have a positive impact on other legal cases on bottom trawling happening across the EU. 'There is now too much evidence about the damage wrought by wide-scale, repeat bottom trawling to ignore,' says ClientEarth ocean lawyer Francesco Maletto. 'We are heartened to see the EU's General Court again uphold the principles of legal protection, keeping these areas of the ocean safe from harm, and ensuring healthy fish and marine wildlife populations.' ClientEarth and others have launched legal action against multiple national governments, as well as bringing complaints to the EU itself, over the failure to tackle harmful fishing taking place in Marine Protected Areas. At last count, no EU country had a definitive roadmap to ban bottom trawling in zones designated for official protection. After footage of bottom trawling from the film Ocean with David Attenborough shocked the world, calls for action have heightened. Some commitments to ban the practice have emerged from the UN Ocean Conference this week in Nice, with the UK and France making initial commitments to crack down on the practice.
