A new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that, despite some improvements, the way we use our seas remains unsustainable,  with human activities and climate change increasingly putting a number of pressures on Europe’s seas.

The cumulative effects of both now threaten the functioning and resilience of marine ecosystems, according to the EEA’s new ‘State of Europe’s seas’ report which examines whether the EU is meeting its policy goals for the quality of the marine environment.

The EU has a range of policies in place related to planning and regulating the sustainable use of Europe’s seas.

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive, adopted in 2008, aims to ensure coherence between such EU policies and sets three goals for Europe’s seas: to be ‘productive’, ‘healthy’, and ‘clean’. Based on the data available, the EEA finds that although Europe’s seas can be considered productive, they cannot be considered healthy or clean.

The report also looks into describing what ecosystem-based management could mean in the marine context and how to improve our knowledge, as well as considering future challenges in relation to the long-term sustainability of Europe’s seas.

Pressures on the rise

The report says only a very limited number of assessments of marine habitats and species indicate favourable conservation status. Current pressures include, among others, physical damage to the seafloor (due to bottom-trawling in particular), introduction of non-indigenous species, nutrient input (mainly from agricultural fertilisers), hazardous substance pollution and marine litter. Climate change induced temperature increases and potential ocean acidification can further weaken the ecological resilience of Europe’s Seas.

A large part of the pressures arises from activities at sea, such as the extraction and production of living resources (fish, shellfish, etc.), transport and energy production, or pollution such as marine litter.

Land-based activities — such as the use of agricultural fertilisers and industrial chemicals, and wastewater — are also adding to the pressures. Ther EEA says that human activities are now reaching levels that threaten the productivity and resilience of the seas, and our wellbeing.  It also warns that degrading the oceans’ life-support function could actually mean crossing a critical planetary boundary.

“Seas are part of European natural capital and require a European approach”

‘We need to respect the ecological boundaries of Europe’s seas if we want to continue enjoying the benefits we receive. This requires aligning our policy ambitions for economic growth with our policy targets of securing healthy, clean and productive seas. Ultimately, this will entail making fundamental changes in the way we meet our societal needs’, said Hans Bruyninckx, EEA Executive Director. ‘Seas are part of our European natural capital and their protection and exploitation require a European approach. In many cases, it also requires a global approach. Our report contributes to the knowledge base needed for relevant policy discussions, currently ongoing at European and global levels,’ added Bruyninckx.

Key findings from the report include:

• For species and habitats assessed from 2007 to 2012 under the EU’s Habitats Directive, 9% of marine habitats and 7% of marine species assessments were in ‘favourable conservation status’, while 66% of habitat and 27% of species assessments were ‘unfavourable’.
• Over 650 marine fish species, over 180 marine bird species, five species of sea turtles and almost 40% of the world’s known marine mammals are found in Europe’s seas.
• Around 320 new non-indigenous species have been observed in Europe’s seas since 2000.
• Climate change is already affecting Europe’s marine ecosystems.
• Hazardous substances are widespread in the marine environment.
• Underwater noise from human activities (shipping, renewable energy, oil and gas extraction, etc.) is increasing and can have a wide range of impacts on marine life.
• Signs of improvement are observed in certain pressures, such as fishing and nutrient loading.
• More than half of the commercial fish stocks assessed are not in good environmental status.
• Total catches in all fishing regions have been declining in the past ten years. The EU is increasingly dependent on imports of its most widely consumed species: tuna, cod and salmon.
• The maritime sector is estimated to provide 6.1 million jobs and to generate an economic value of approximately EUR 467 billion., the cumulative effects of which threaten the functioning and resilience of marine ecosystems.

The EEA says the knowledge base on marine biodiversity remains very limited, calling for greater cooperation among EU countries and with other countries bordering the regional seas of Europe.

Ultimately, the report argues that EU is not on the path to fulfil its ambition of achieving sustainable use of its seas; although it is fully empowered to do so through the current array of policies and knowledge. The report discusses how a long-term transition to sustainability could then be secured using the available policies and knowledge.

Click here to download the report