From the North Sea to the Black Sea, the European continent is surrounded by seas with unique characteristics and each faces major challenges. Similarly, coastal zones, which are home to millions of Europeans, mirror this diversity—ranging from sand dunes and rocky cliffs to large estuaries. Europeans have been transforming coastal zones for centuries, building cities, ports, and tourism resorts, where many communities rely on healthy and clean coastal and marine ecosystems.
Degradation of marine and coastal ecosystems can be seen almost everywhere: in the Baltic, Black and Mediterranean seas and the North-East Atlantic and Arctic oceans. The effects of environmental degradation or climate change are sometimes irreversible.
Major threats to Europe’s coastal ecosystems and biodiversity today include:
- Climate change impacts, such as warmer surface waters and changes in pH and salinity levels, make it impossible for some shellfish to survive under new conditions
- Coastal erosion and rising sea levels
- Pressures from fishing and aquaculture activities
- Pollution and eutrophication (nutrient pollution) from land- and sea-based activities, including agriculture
- Dense coastal urban development and tourism
- Energy transmission lines and mining activities, and
- Spread of invasive species, especially through shipping.
EU policies and action by Member States have started resulting in local improvements but much more effort is needed to achieve sustainability in Europe’s seas.