What’s new? A more connected view of the ocean
Traditionally, ocean models have focused on specific parts of the ecosystem in isolation. NECCTON moves beyond this by combining them, allowing scientists to better understand how changes in one part of the system affect another.
This includes new information on:
- Marine species such as fish and plankton
- Conditions on the seabed
- Pressures such as plastics, chemicals, and climate stress
Many of these new outputs have now been tested against real-world observations and shown to provide reliable insights in different regions.
What can it offer?
For scientists, the system provides a richer evidence base for studying ecosystems, testing scenarios, and exploring how marine life responds to environmental change.
For policy and decision-makers, it offers practical tools to support:
- Fisheries management
- Pollution monitoring
- Marine conservation planning
- Climate adaptation strategies
In particular, new indicators — such as fish biomass, seabed oxygen levels, and climate stress indices — can help translate complex science into usable information.
Moving the state of the art forward
This work represents a significant step forward in how marine ecosystems are modelled. It expands what can be measured and predicted, including areas that were previously difficult to assess, such as seabed conditions and the combined effects of multiple stressors.
It also highlights an important challenge: the need for more observational data to improve and validate models, particularly for less well-studied parts of the ocean.
Why it matters
Oceans are under growing pressure from climate change, pollution, and human activity. Having better tools to understand these changes is essential for protecting marine ecosystems and the services they provide.
By bringing together data on physics, biology, and human pressures, this work helps move towards a more complete, system-wide view of the ocean — supporting better decisions for the future of our seas.
Read the full report here
