Overview

• An intense May 2025 marine heatwave raised UK sea temperatures by up to 4°C, marking the region among the fastest-warming ocean areas globally.
• A Cefas study modeling 19 threatened species predicts mobile animals—basking sharks, spurdog sharks, thornback rays and native oysters—will see substantial habitat increases by 2060.
• Static species such as sea pens and the long-lived ocean quahog are forecast to lose as much as 40% of suitable habitat, imperiling reef ecosystems.
• Scientists anticipate the North Sea will transform into a biodiversity hotspot over the next 50 years as southern species migrate northward.
• Researchers urge adaptive management of Marine Protected Areas to shield vulnerable species from pollution, fishing gear and shifting temperature zones.