Loss, status and trends for coastal marine habitats of Europe

摘要: Over the centuries, land reclamation, coastal development, overfishing and pollution have nearly eliminated European wetlands, seagrass meadows, shellfish beds, biogenic reefs other productive diverse habitats. It is estimated that every day between 1960 1995, a kilometre of coastline was developed. Most countries losses wetlands seagrasses exceeding 50% original area with peaks above 80% for many regions. Conspicuous declines, sometimes to virtual local disappearance kelps complex macroalgae, been observed in several countries. A few dominant threats led these over time. The greatest impacts consistently claim development. macroalgae are presently associated degraded water quality while past there more effects from destructive fishing diseases. Coastal development remains an important threat seagrasses. For habitats, such as oyster maerls, some overexploitation additional disease, particularly native oysters. defence had known on soft-sediment habitats high likelihood trawling has affected vast areas. concept 'shifting baselines', which applied mostly inadequate historical perspective fishery losses, extremely relevant habitat loss generally. estimates refer relatively short time span primarily within last century. However, regions, most estuarine near-shore were already severely or driven extinction well before 1900. Native ecologically extinct by 1950s along coastlines bays that. These among endangered but they receive least protection. Nowadays less than 15% considered 'good' condition. Those fragments remain under continued threat, their management not generally informed adequate knowledge distribution status. There policies directives aimed at reducing reversing overall positive benefits low. Further neglecting this long history transformation may ultimately compromise successful future sustainability those semi-native Europe.