17 March 2010: The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published the fourth message in its series of ‘10 messages for 2010.’ The fourth message focuses on marine ecosystems and highlights links with climate change.

According to the message, in recent years climate change has caused changes in species distribution and presents new challenges for marine biodiversity as oceans become more acidic. It also emphasizes that, as a consequence of overexploitation of commercial fish stocks and certain fishing practices threatening other marine ecosystem components, marine habitats are more vulnerable to climate change. Overall, the message stresses that climate change impacts on marine biodiversity and ecosystems are becoming increasingly obvious and very likely to cause large-scale alterations within marine ecosystems. [Message 4]