Marine climate change is on the increase

Climate change is having a significant impact on our marine environment.

The Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) report card 2007-08 highlights just how much climate change has affected the United Kingdom's marine environment and what the future impacts may be. Key findings from the report published says that 2006 was the second warmest year for UK coastal waters since records began in 1870; seven of the 10 warmest years have been in the last decade. Warmer winters have been strongly linked to reduced breeding success and survival in some seabird populations. Models predict fewer storms in future but there will be increased numbers of severe storms. Coastal erosion and flooding is expected to increase. Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead said: 'Climate change, including marine climate change, is one of the most serious threats facing today. It is a truly global issue and can only be tackled if we work together. Our seas play a vital role in regulating our climate and are a lifeline for the communities that live around them. Healthy seas are central to our wellbeing, shaping our climate as well as providing food and livelihoods.
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