The sea around the United Kingdom is becoming very hot. This is a marine heatwave. Scientists say the water temperature could rise by 4 to 5 degrees Celsius this week. This heat is very strong near the south and east coasts of England. This is the third heatwave this summer. It is happening because global sea temperatures are breaking old records.
The heat comes from a "heat dome" over Europe. The oceans are very important because they absorb most of the extra heat on Earth. This extra heat comes from burning fossil fuels. This is part of the global climate crisis. Because the oceans absorb so much energy, the sea water is getting warmer all over the world.
This heat is dangerous for sea life. Plants like seagrass and kelp forests are in trouble. If the water is too hot, these plants and many animals can die quickly. This is a big problem because many fish need these plants for food and homes.
The warm water is also changing which animals live in the UK. Some fish, like cod, like cool water. Now, they are moving north to find colder places. Other animals like the octopus love warm water. There are now many more octopuses in southwest England. Octopuses eat crabs, lobsters, and scallops. Because there are more octopuses, there might be fewer crabs and lobsters in the future. The ocean life in the UK is changing very fast.