The temperature of waters around Scotland is increasing; the level of the Mediterranean Sea is slightly rising; the planet’s overheating is affecting the fish fauna of the European seas. These are some of the conclusions drawn by a report by the Common Research Centre (Crc) of the EU Commission, illustrating "the effects of climate change on coastal waters and the regional seas of Europe". The report is called "Marine and coastal dimension of climate change in Europe" and was submitted during the conference "Climate Change and the European Water Dimension", promoted by the EU German presidency in Berlin (12-14 February). The report also acknowledges "the deficiencies that exist in the current basic scientific and technological knowledge in terms of climate impact"; then it provides a few political recommendations to correct this state of affairs. The CCR researchers highlight that "any policy aiming at reducing the impact of climate change will have to keep into account man’s exploitation of seas and coasts in order for it to achieve a sustainable management of marine resources". (to be continued)
