Commission report finds devastating shifts in the Arctic and record-breaking marine heatwaves

The ocean is changing at an alarming pace with direct consequences for marine life, coastlines and communities all across the world. That is the main conclusion of the tenth report on the state of the ocean, published today by the Marine Environment Monitoring Service of Copernicus, the EU Earth observation programme. The report goes back to data from 1960 and shows that, due to the rising temperatures, the average sea-level increased by about 4.2 mm per year since 2012.

Key findings from this year's report include:

Through its Copernicus programme and its Ocean State Report, the EU provides trusted data to monitor the ocean's health and support measures that protect biodiversity, cut pollution and strengthen resilience against climate change.

The annual Copernicus report provides vital data on how changes in the ocean affect ecosystems, food security, economies, coastal communities and global climate regulation.