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Climate change: little attention given to marine issues

It's hardly news any more that global warming could reach between 1 and 3.5^oC this century, higher than in the past 10,000 years. The number of heavy rainstorms and blizzards has increased by one-fifth in the past decade.

What does this mean for the human environment on the coast and in relation to marine issues?

UN scientists report that relatively little attention has been given to the impact on marine environmental quality. But they note that the likely increase in extreme meteorological events could do devastating damage to nearshore coral reefs and intertidal ecosystems. Fish harvests, by contrast, could improve. The marine scientists warn that a mis-match in the timing of predator and food development might nevertheless significantly disrupt marine ecosystems.