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It is not only about seafood or a romantic sunset, our oceans are essential to us both ecologically and economically. They regulate our climate, produce oxygen and remove carbon from the atmosphere through processes such as photosynthesis. They are also home to an incredible number of species, with many new ones discovered on a regular basis, living in almost unimaginable settings. Today, biodiversity in Europe’s seas and oceans faces an unprecedented range of pressures and require urgent action.
Fourth in the series of '10 messages for 2010', the EEA's assessment highlights some key pressures on marine ecosystems:
European marine biodiversity is primarily protected by establishing Natura 2000 sites under the Habitats and Birds Directives but there are serious delays in identifying areas and even longer delays in assessing their status. Evidence suggests that marine protected areas support marine biodiversity and fisheries, and that the extent of recovery increases with the age and size of the protected area.
For additional information on the state of marine biodiversity, please see Census of Marine Life and its report 'First Census of Marine Life 2010: Highlights of a Decade of Discovery'.
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/marine-biodiversity-life-in-seas or scan the QR code.
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