marine ecosystems

Conservationists warn that the current super El Niño is pushing ocean temperatures to levels that could trigger mass coral bleaching and death on reefs worldwide. Rising heat stress is described as an existential threat to coral ecosystems, which support vast marine biodiversity and coastal livelihoods. Environmental groups are urging attention to the accelerating damage as sea surface temperatures break records.

Oil spills linked to the war are spreading through the Strait of Hormuz toward coral reefs and mangrove ecosystems, raising alarm among environmental groups. Greenpeace warns that fossil fuel dependence is placing people, nature and economies at risk, and is calling for a shift to clean, decentralised energy to prevent future damage.

The world's oceans are absorbing record levels of heat, according to new findings highlighted by oceanographers, with researchers warning the ocean is 'transforming before our eyes'. Rising ocean heat content is a key indicator of climate change, driving warmer sea temperatures, marine heatwaves and stress on marine ecosystems. Observers say the latest measurements underscore how rapidly the planet's warming is accelerating.

The world's oceans absorbed a record amount of heat in the past year, equivalent to around 40 times humanity's total annual energy use, according to reports citing new research. Scientists warn the thermal energy is driving accelerating sea level rise and continued ocean acidification, adding to concerns about the pace of climate change and its impact on marine ecosystems.

Europe's seas are recording unprecedented temperatures, driving a transformation of marine ecosystems that scientists link to shifts in fish populations. Some fisheries face catastrophic losses, threatening coastal communities that depend on them for their livelihoods. The warming is being described as a visible consequence of climate change hitting Europe's waters, with impacts expected to worsen if sea temperatures continue to climb.

A new assessment finds that Europe is not on course to achieve a healthy ocean by 2030, according to a press release issued by BirdLife International. The finding points to continued shortfalls in protecting marine ecosystems across the continent, despite existing commitments. Environmental groups are expected to use the assessment to pressure governments to strengthen ocean protection measures.

Wired reports that plastic pollution is melting onto coral reefs, coating corals and adding a new threat to ecosystems already stressed by warming seas and acidification. The story highlights how plastics breaking down in the ocean may interact directly with coral tissue, deepening concern among marine scientists about the combined impact of pollution and climate change on reef survival.

New findings show the world's oceans are becoming saltier and more acidic as marine heatwaves drive what researchers describe as a 'profound change' in ocean chemistry. Rising temperatures are intensifying evaporation in salty regions while increased carbon absorption is acidifying waters, threatening marine ecosystems, fisheries and coastal communities that depend on them.

A new ocean report warns that sea levels are rising, ocean temperatures are climbing, and acidification is worsening, threatening coastal communities and marine ecosystems worldwide. The findings underscore accelerating climate change impacts and are drawing attention from scientists and policymakers calling for urgent emissions cuts and stronger ocean protection measures.

Researchers have documented plastic debris becoming fused to coral rubble on the ocean floor, creating a new form of pollution that combines plastic waste with damaged reef material. The finding suggests plastic may be integrating into marine environments in ways that are harder to detect and remove than floating debris, compounding concerns about its long-term impact on coral reef ecosystems already stressed by warming waters.

New research finds that warming temperatures are melting ice at the poles, fundamentally transforming polar ocean habitats. The loss of sea ice is reshaping ecosystems that depend on frozen environments, with consequences for marine species and the broader climate system.

The Trump administration is moving to open the deep sea to industrial mining, a plan Greenpeace and other environmental groups are urging the public to oppose. Critics say deep-sea extraction could cause irreversible damage to fragile marine ecosystems that are still poorly understood. Campaigners are calling on people to submit objections and pressure officials to halt the plans.

New reporting highlights that ocean acidity has increased by 20% since 1985, a change driven by the sea absorbing rising carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The finding is drawing attention to the growing threat of ocean acidification to marine ecosystems, including coral reefs and shellfish, and to the coastal communities and fisheries that depend on them.

A new report finds the world's seas took in a record-breaking 23 zettajoules of heat in 2025, leaving ocean waters hotter, higher and less hospitable to marine life. Scientists say the figures underline the accelerating pace of ocean warming driven by climate change, with rising sea levels and stressed ecosystems among the consequences being highlighted.

New research shows that polar oceans are undergoing fundamental transformation as rising temperatures melt sea ice and destroy the habitats that ice-dependent species rely on. The findings highlight how warming is reshaping marine ecosystems at both poles, with consequences for wildlife and food chains that depend on ice-covered waters.

A new report covered by Mongabay finds that coral reefs worldwide are getting less time to recover between bleaching events as ocean temperatures keep rising. The findings suggest increasingly frequent marine heatwaves are eroding reefs' ability to bounce back, adding urgency to warnings about climate change's impact on marine ecosystems.

The EU's Ocean State Report 10 has found that marine heatwaves in the Mediterranean have reached their highest level in two decades. The finding points to intensifying warming in one of the world's most vulnerable seas, with scientists warning of consequences for marine ecosystems, fisheries and coastal communities across the region.