ACT now or it may be too late to save our seas this is the dire warning issued by the Environment Agency.

An agency report has found that sea levels are continuing to rise and that fish stocks are declining.

Sir John Harman, the chairman of the Environment Agency, said: "Our coasts and seas are under pressure, fish stocks are decreasing. Sea levels are rising and flood risk is increasing. The climate is warming up and marine ecosystems are changing in response.

"To meet these challenges we need to strike a much better balance between the different uses of our coasts and seas to protect the marine environ- ment.

"While we have seen improvements such as the best results ever this year with all the bathing water in Wales and 99 per cent in England meeting EU standards our challenges are changing and much remains to be done."

The Agency has now produced its first marine strategy, which sets out the EA's role in protecting the environment through our duties, which span land and sea and range from promoting recreation to managing flood risk and controlling pollution.

But Sir John added: "However, we can't do it alone. We can only protect our marine environment if we work together with governments, other regulators and coastal communities to develop new ways of management."

Key findings of the report include...

Coastal flooding could increase between four and ten-fold as a result of climate change if flood risk expenditure and management do not change.

Sea levels and storms are projected to increase with climate change.

Plaice and cod are now being fished to such an extent that they now grow more slowly and mature at a younger age.

Half of all salt marshes in Britain have been lost to land reclamation since Roman times.

Beaches are littered by an average of two items per metre.

A quarter of estuaries and 24 per cent of coastal waters are at risk from diffuse pollution.