ETC BE Report 2026/3: Marine Messages III. State, pressures, and choices for the future

17 Jul 2026

Jesper Andersen, Samuli Korpinen, Johnny Reker, Meri Aho, Eda Bayar Aydin, Mustafa Aydin, Emma D. Barkardóttir, Emanuele Bigagli, Jacob Carstensen, Natacha Carvalho, Gorm Dige, Eva R. Gelabert, Therese Harvey, Steen W. Knudsen, Ciarán Murray, Henrik Nygård, Simon A. Özkan, Monika Peterlin, Paula Ramon, Luka Snoj, Helle M. Sommer, Andy Stock, David Vaughan

The ‘Marine Messages III’ synthesis report paints a vivid picture of the current state of Europe’s seas. Drawing from a rich tapestry of data sources, datasets, and tools, it maps out the ‘problem’ and ‘non-problem’ zones across biodiversity, ecosystem health, contamination, eutrophication, and climate change.

The findings of ‘Marine Messages III’ reveal that Europe’s seas are, by and large, in a troubling state. Pollution, overuse of resources, habitat degradation, invasive species, and the relentless march of climate change are compounding the stress on ecosystems, sapping their resilience. Many species and habitats languish in poor condition, with problematic areas scattered across most European waters.

A looming temperature rise of 2.3–2.5 °C threatens to unravel the ecological gains made thus far. Climate change has stepped out of the shadows, no longer a mere backdrop but a formidable force among the stressors on Europe’s seas, poised to take centre stage by mid-century. The warming, acidification, and deoxygenation are magnifying human pressures, further eroding ecosystem resilience.

‘Marine Messages III’ also puts a specific focus on solutions that have proven to work, and outlines ways forward to improve environmental conditions and increase resilience towards cumulative impacts form multiple stressors, including climate change.

Without swift cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and decisive action on other stressors, marine ecosystems may falter in their ability to sustain biodiversity, regulate climate, and provide vital services.