Marine heatwaves threaten human health

Researchers from University of Adelaide and the University of Hong Kong published a paper in Nature Sustainability warning that marine heatwaves pose a growing threat to human physical and mental health. The paper, led by Dr Laura Falkenberg, argues that these extreme ocean warming events can intensify storms, reduce seafood availability and safety, disrupt livelihoods, and contribute to eco-anxiety and other mental health issues in coastal communities. The authors call for governments and public health agencies to treat marine heatwaves similarly to land-based heatwaves, incorporating forecasts into public health planning and improving collaboration between ocean scientists and health authorities. The paper cites Hurricane Otis in 2023, which caused an estimated US$15 billion in damage in Mexico, and Typhoon Doksuri in 2023, which affected over two million people across Asia, as examples linked to marine heatwaves. It also references a 2025 toxic algal bloom in Australia that was associated with eco-anxiety and respiratory problems.