New Tools to Map Marine Pressures and Risks Released

A new NECCTON report, led by Dr Lee de Mora (Plymouth Marine Laboratory) in collaboration with project partners, presents a suite of tools for mapping integrated pressures, exposure, and environmental risk in European seas.

The tools focus on four new climate change indices:

- Aerobic Growth Index
- Aragonite Saturation Index
- Hypoxia Index
- Heat Wave Hazard Index

These were validated using model data from the Northwest European Shelf and combined into a multi-stressor index to assess cumulative climate impacts.

The report also demonstrates tools for mapping pollution-related hazards—including plastics, mercury, persistent organic pollutants, and oil spills—alongside a robust evaluation framework to ensure their effectiveness.

These developments support NECCTON’s mission to improve biodiversity forecasting and inform sustainable marine management.

🔗 Read the report:https://zenodo.org/records/15774353