Record North Sea warmth off Yorkshire threatens marine life and fishing
Scientists say the North Sea off the Yorkshire coast is warming at record rates, with temperatures near Mediterranean levels on some days, threatening marine life and the local fishing industry.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Scientists have warned that the North Sea off the Yorkshire coast is warming at record rates, raising concern for marine life and the region's fishing industry.
For 40 years, researchers have taken routine monthly measurements from a boat off the coast. They say 2025 and 2026 are probably the warmest years in that 40-year record for the Yorkshire coast, and that this year is likely to be the warmest for several hundred years, if not longer.
What the data show
- In 1986, the average temperature day and night from January to August was 7.9C. This year, it is 10.2C, an increase of more than two degrees in just 40 years.
- On certain days during summer heatwaves, the surface temperature has hit nearly 20C, as warm as parts of the Mediterranean.
- Over the past four decades, average temperatures have risen from about 8C to 10C. Scientists describe these as some of the quickest warming waters almost anywhere.
Warmer waters tend to have fewer nutrients than colder ones. Researchers want to establish whether the temperature changes are altering the animals and plants that support crabs, lobsters, cod and the wider fisheries in the area.
Fishermen in Bridlington say they are already noticing changes. They are catching fewer crabs. They report seeing a lot of small crabs but do not know where they go, and wonder whether they are moving into deeper, colder water. One fisherman said the changes make him think about how much longer the industry has.
The nightmare scenario for some is the arrival of species that feed on crab and lobster, such as octopuses. Octopuses have proliferated as waters have warmed off the coast of Cornwall. There is also concern that the ecosystem is changing faster than people can adapt or respond.
Scientists are now working with fishermen to gather more data. Sensors are being placed inside lobster pots to collect information from the seabed, so researchers can better understand how warming waters will affect life and livelihoods below the surface.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| Bridlington fishermen are catching fewer crabs amid rising temperatures. | |
| Scientists reported that 2025 and 2026 are probably the warmest years in a 40-year record for the Yorkshire coast. | |
| Sea temperatures off the Yorkshire coast reached almost 20C during last month's heatwave, comparable to the Mediterranean. | |
| The average day and night temperature from January to August rose from 7.9C in 1986 to 10.2C this year, an increase of more than 2C over 40 years. | |
| The waters off Yorkshire are among the quickest warming anywhere. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV Evening News led its sea temperature coverage with the warning that the Yorkshire coast is experiencing record-breaking warmth. It framed the issue around the threat to marine life and the Bridlington fishing industry, using scientist and fisherman interviews and ending on data collection with lobster pots. The broadcast also carried unrelated national news before and after the report.
- “Scientists are warning that seas off the Yorkshire coast are experiencing record-breaking warmth.”
- “It's likely to be the warmest year for probably several hundred years, if not longer.”
- “There is a lot of small crabs, but we don't know where they go, which is strange.”
ITV News at Ten repeated the same special report but sharpened the temperature comparison, giving 1986 and current averages of 7.9C and 10.2C. It stressed the scale of the rise over 40 years and the Mediterranean-level surface temperatures, while keeping the focus on fishermen, marine life and new seabed monitoring. The bulletin placed the item after international news and before an entertainment item.
- “In 1986, the average temperature day and night from January to August was 7.9 degrees. This year, it's 10.2 degrees, up more than two degrees in just 40 years”
- “They are some of the quickest warming waters pretty much anywhere.”
- “Scientists are now working with the fishermen here to gather even more data from the sea bed to understand how these warming waters will impact life and livelihoods below the surface.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.