Coastal, marine and freshwater ecosystems are subject to pressure from direct human activity and accelerating climate change. The damage includes the loss of biodiversity, the depletion of fish stocks, damage to the sea floor, including from the use of harmful devices such as fishing gear, obstruction of rivers, eutrophication pollution, and the accumulation of marine litter including a high level of fishing gear and microplastics that are discarded in the oceans. Poor ecological health not only compromises biodiversity targets but also harms those communities and businesses that depend on clean water and healthy ecosystems. The global market for goods and services for measuring and mitigating that degradation is growing and is highly competitive. Innovation that can enhance, restore and recover marine, coastal and freshwater capital and innovation into sustainable fishing gear and methods is key for the competitiveness of Union businesses and to supporting jobs and growth across the Union.  

Source: EURO-Lex

The degradation of ecosystem services represents the loss of ‘natural capital’. The loss of this capital (or wealth) due to ecosystem degradation is however not reflected in conventional national accounts. For example, a country could cut its forests and deplete its fisheries, and this would show only as a positive gain in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) without registering the corresponding decline in assets (wealth). A number of countries that appeared to have positive growth in net savings (wealth) in 2001 actually experienced a loss in wealth when degradation of natural resources was factored into the accounts.

Source: EURO-Lex

Degradation or destruction of large natural environments. When one ecosystem is under attack as a result of natural or man-made disaster it is extremely difficult to calculate the ripple effects throughout nature. When two or more ecosystems are being degraded the probabilities of synergistic destructiveness multiply. Ecosystems in many regions are threatened, despite their biological richness and their promise of material benefits. 

Source: EEA Glossary