Europe's seas face 'bleak future'

[muriel_volestrangler]

Europe's seas are in a "serious state of decline" as a result of coastal development, overfishing and pollution from agriculture, warn scientists.

The continent's regional seas will deteriorate even further unless action is taken to curb the threats, they add.

Economic growth and the expansion of the EU, the researchers suggested, had contributed to the state of the waters.
...
North-East Atlantic Ocean: unsustainable fishing is affecting sea bird populations; increased shipping has seen new ports being built and navigation channels dredged
Baltic Sea: overfishing; eutrophication from industrial run-off but economic recovery could lead to improved waste water treatment
Black Sea: pressures from modern lifestyles have caused ecosystem collapses; land-based sources of nutrients have triggered harmful algal blooms
Mediterranean Sea: status as international biodiversity hotspot is being 'increasingly compromised' by invasive species, coastal developments and overfishing

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6730045.stm