Record heat in the Mediterranean Sea sparks fears for marine life
On 29 June, sea surface temperatures hit 26.01°C, according to data collected by Copernicus and analysed by Météo-France. Overall temperatures are currently 3°C higher than average, with spikes exceeding 4°C in some places around the French and Spanish coasts.
The most intense warming was observed in the western Mediterranean basin, including the Balearic Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea. With the current weather conditions, scientists say temperatures are unlikely to drop anytime soon.
The Mediterranean is considered one of the world's most vulnerable 'climate change hotspots', warming much faster than the global average. Without action to curb climate change, experts warn that persistent marine heatwaves - prolonged periods of abnormally high ocean temperatures - could change the region beyond recognition.
Marine heatwaves could devastate life in the Mediterranean Sea
A persistent and growing marine heatwave is gripping the region, with 'severe' and 'extreme' conditions emerging off southeastern Spain and northern Morocco.
Marine scientists warn that the unfolding situation could bring devastating impacts for biodiversity, fisheries, aquaculture, and even weather patterns across southern Europe and North Africa.
'Marine heatwaves of this magnitude in the Mediterranean Sea have had major effects on marine life,' says Dr Kathryn Smith from the Marine Biological Association of the UK.
'In the past, we have seen impacts like mass mortalities of invertebrate species, die-offs of seagrass beds and disease outbreaks in mussel farms. It's likely that we'll see similar impacts from this event.'
These events have already driven coral populations down by 90 per cent and pushed the noble fan mussel to the brink of extinction.
Warmer waters hold less oxygen, leading to mass fish die-offs such as those seen in Tuscany in 2024. And, as fish dive deeper to escape the heat on the surface, they can't be reached by seabirds, which then die off in their masses, too.
The ripple effects of marine heatwaves extend onto land, too. Warm seas fuel extreme weather, as seen during Storm Daniel in 2023 which killed nearly 6,000 people. It was made 50 times more likely and 50 per cent more intense by high sea surface temperatures in the Mediterranean.
Floods in Valencia in 2024, which claimed over 200 lives, have also been linked in part to high sea surface temperatures.
Marine heatwaves are becoming more intense and lasting longer
Marine heatwaves are now ten times more intense than in pre-industrial times and last three times as long.
'Climate change is responsible for the global increase in the frequency, duration and intensity of marine heatwaves,' says Dr Alistair Hobday, research director for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's (CSIRO) Sustainable Marine Futures Programme.
The Mediterranean Sea has been steadily warming since the 1980s, with a sharp acceleration over the past decade. Over the last 40 years, it has gone from experiencing one marine heatwave per year in defined areas to an average of four per year, which cover almost the entire sea. Temperatures have been constantly above average for the past five years.
'The unfolding, wide-reaching heatwave in the western Mediterranean now demands close attention,' says Dr Karina von Schuckmann, a senior advisor at Mercator Ocean International.
Scientists stress that only rapid global emission cuts can halt this trend. Without urgent action, this climate hotspot could be permanently transformed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
3 days ago
- Euronews
Light stimulation shows promise in slowing Parkinson's, scientists say
French scientists are experimenting with a new way to combat Parkinson's disease: using light to stimulate damaged nerve cells in the brain. Researchers from a biomedical research centre affiliated with Grenoble University Hospital announced their progress on Radio France, explaining that while the trial is still at a very early stage, it could lead to breakthroughs in the treatment of the neurodegenerative disease. Around 10 million people worldwide have Parkinson's, and that figure is expected to double by 2050, according to Parkinson's Europe. There is no cure, but researchers have been searching for ways to slow the disease and alleviate symptoms, which include tremours, muscle rigidity, and slowness of movement. If it is successful in larger studies, the French clinical trial could help disrupt the progression of the disease through a non-invasive technique that stimulates the functional recovery of neurons, or nerve cells. The study targets dopamine-secreting neurons, which are critically affected as Parkinson's progresses. Around half of these cells may be damaged by the time symptoms appear, while patients lose an average of 10 per cent of their dopamine receptors per year, according to Dr Stephan Chabardès, a neurosurgeon at Grenoble University Hospital. The aim of the trial is to slow down patients' neurological deterioration, Chabardès said. The technique directs light beams to neurons deep inside the brain to target mitochondria – responsible for energy production within the cell – to stimulate them and improve their function, thereby revitalising the damaged cells. Chabardès said that in order to access these deep brain regions, the researchers developed a special compact device that combines advanced expertise in electronics, photonics, and nanotechnology, enabling the system to get smaller without sacrificing performance. "It is the combination of this medical expertise in neurosurgery with expertise in micro and nanotechnologies that makes it possible to achieve these medical feats," he said. So far, the technology has been applied to seven patients with early stages of the disease, and preliminary results indicate a slowdown in the deterioration of symptoms in three of them, especially with continued stimulation. It appeared that the light stimulation helped restore some brain function in these three cases, Chabardès said. "It's very preliminary, but what we are seeing is quite promising," Chabardès said. He noted that researchers will only launch a larger clinical trial if the study finds a tangible and stable effect.
Euronews
6 days ago
- Euronews
Asian algae infesting southern Spanish beaches
Since May 2025, local authorities in Cádiz have removed 1,200 tonnes of this algae from La Caleta, the city's most popular beach, including a maximum of 78 tonnes in a single day. "We are completely overwhelmed. This is an environmental catastrophe," declared José Carlos Teruel, head of beaches for the Cadiz city council, who added that every time a westerly wind blows, they know they are in for another wave of seaweed. The species, 'Rugulopteryx okamurae', which is believed to have arrived in the ballast tanks of ships passing through the Suez Canal and unloading in the Mediterranean, has colonised the Strait of Gibraltar, much of the southern Spanish coast, the Canary Islands, the Azores and, further north, the Cantabrian Sea and the Basque Country in little more than a decade. It was first detected ten years ago in Ceuta by a researcher from the University of Malaga. Devastating economic and ecological impact The algae is having a significant negative impact on multiple sectors of the local economy. Tourism in Cadiz and Tarifa, a popular destination for windsurfers, is affected by the massive presence of this algae on the beaches, which also produces a very unpleasant smell. Fishing activity also suffers the consequences, as the algae trap the fishermen's nets and lines, as well as depleting the oxygen in the seawater. The most worrying impact is on biodiversity. At La Caleta beach, the algae has displaced many native plants, and it is not yet clear whether this damage is temporary or irreversible. 'Rugulopteryx okamurae' attaches itself to rocks and other surfaces, eliminating native algal species. Its lack of natural predators in the region, combined with its ability to reproduce both sexually and asexually and to absorb toxins, makes it virtually impossible to eradicate, according to experts. Juan José Vergara, professor of biology at the University of Cadiz, explains that in the first phase of such an invasion it can be controlled, "it's like detecting a cancer in time before it spreads". However, the current scale makes control impossible, and what reaches the beaches is only a fraction of what exists underwater. From problem to energy resource Currently, seaweed is dumped in landfills, which is an additional cost to taxpayers. A local company that recycles seaweed to make beverage containers or use it as fuel and fertiliser has applied for permission to use 'Rugulopteryx okamurae' as biomass for energy production. However, Spanish legislation on invasive species prohibits their commercial exploitation unless they pose a threat to health and safety or to facilitate their eradication, conditions that would appear to apply in this case. This week, the Andalusian regional government launched a four-party plan to tackle the crisis, based on research, monitoring and education, which includes options for recycling the algae. Although the regional government will have to negotiate with the environment ministry to use the algae as biomass, Vergara warns that even if an agreement is reached, this measure can only be part of the solution. "It is an interesting idea, but I doubt it can eradicate or even significantly decrease the intensity of the invasion when hundreds of thousands of tonnes can reach a single beach," he concludes.
Euronews
22-07-2025
- Euronews
Sanofi buys UK's Vicebio for over €1bn to expand vaccine portfolio
In the race to develop next-generation respiratory virus vaccines, French pharmaceutical company Sanofi has agreed to buy Vicebio Ltd., a privately-held biotechnology company headquartered in London, UK. Sanofi said there will be an initial cash payment of $1.15bn (€980 million) for the deal, 'with potential milestone payments of up to $450 million based on development and regulatory achievements'. 'We are excited to join Sanofi', said Emmanuel Hanon, Chief Executive Officer at Vicebio, in a statement. 'Their global scale and deep expertise in vaccine development provide the ideal environment to fully realise the potential of our innovative technology." With the acquisition, Sanofi gets Vicebio's early-stage combination vaccine candidate for two respiratory viruses, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV). Respiratory infections, affecting millions globally, often appear as cold-like illnesses that could, in severe cases, lead to pneumonia. In respiratory medication, Sanofi already has several vaccines in its portfolio against flu and RSV prevention; this latest acquisition adds a non-mRNA vaccine to its pipeline. mRNA technology is relatively new for vaccines. It teaches the body how to make a protein that triggers an immune response to protect against a specific virus, instead of using a weakened or inactivated germ to trigger this reaction. With the current deal, Sanofi also gets access to Vicebio's Molecular Clamp technology, which stabilises viral proteins in their native shape, triggering a more effective immune response. This technology is expected to speed up vaccine development and simplify manufacturing and distribution. 'This acquisition furthers Sanofi's dedication to vaccine innovation with the potential to develop next-generation combination vaccines that could provide protection to older adults against multiple respiratory viruses with a single immunisation," said Jean-François Toussaint, global head of research and development vaccines at Sanofi. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2025, and will not have a significant impact on Sanofi's financial guidance for 2025. The pharma giant's share price was down around 0.4% before 11:00 CEST in Paris.
