UK's sea fish in peril
A new assessment of the country's oceans indicates that fishing and climate change are beginning to have an adverse
effect on marine life.
Much of the open sea is not affected by pollution, and levels of some contaminants are starting to decrease, according
to the report.
But in many areas fishing, industrial activities, pollution and the invasion of non-native species seem to be having an
effect.
The report finds that rising sea temperatures and climate change appear to be blame for these changes.
The extent to which this mixed evidence is having an effect is not fully clear.
Existing monitoring programmes are inadequate to assess the status of some elements of the marine ecosystem - so a new
series of 'indicators' will be developed to provide more conclusive data.
Environment Minister Elliot Morley said:
"What I can say with some certainty is that we are having an adverse effect on our marine life and climate change is
clearly evident in our seas."