Migration of marine species in the Northern Atlantic Ocean

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Global Warming Predictions.png
Calculations prepared in or before 2001 from a range of climate models under the SRES A2 emissions scenario, which assumes no action is taken to reduce emissions and regionally divided economic development.
Global Warming Predictions Map.jpg
The geographic distribution of surface warming during the 21st century calculated by the HadCM3 climate model if a business as usual scenario is assumed for economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions. In this figure, the globally averaged warming corresponds to 3.0 °C (37.4 °F).

Due to the warming of the Atlantic Ocean caused by climate change, many species of fish are beginning to shift north towards cooler waters within their temperature range. Tropical species are being found outside their normal range and into more northern waters causing an array of ecological, economic, and fishery management problems.

Contents

Research

William Cheung, a professor at the University of East Anglia, in the Sea Around Us Project at the University of British Columbia concluded that the oceans were warming at an average of 0.19 °C (32.34 °F) per decade and at 0.23 °C (32.41 °F) per decade in tropical waters. However, the north-east Atlantic has been warming at a rate of 0.49 °C (32.88 °F) per decade. Cheung and his colleagues were able to get these estimates by using the mean temperature of catch. They used data from 990 species within 52 marine ecosystems from 1970-2006. Using fisheries data and computer models, Cheung was able to estimate the shift of species. Species are migrating north at an average rate of 40 to 45 kilometers (25 to 28 mi) per decade. The study predicted that there will be a 60% shift of species towards northern waters within the next 41 years. [1]

Species shifting north

Potential issues

Global capture of Pandalus borealis in tonnes reported by the FAO, 1950-2010 Pandalus borealis wild capture series.png
Global capture of Pandalus borealis in tonnes reported by the FAO, 1950–2010
Hauled aboard a shrimp boat Northern shrimp on shrimp boat.jpg
Hauled aboard a shrimp boat

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References

  1. Cheung W, Watson R and Pauly D (2013) Signature of ocean warming in global fisheries catch. Nature 497: 365-368.
  2. "Climate News Network". Climate News Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 December 2013. < http://www.climatenewsnetwork.net/2013/05/fish-migration-reveals-ocean-warming/ >.
  3. "Climate News Network." Climate News Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 December 2013. < http://www.climatenewsnetwork.net/2013/05/fish-migration-reveals-ocean-warming/ >.
  4. "The Lionfish Invasion!". Lionfish Invade U.S. Waters: Lionfish Discovery Story. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 December 2013. <http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/stories/lionfish/lion02_invade.html>.
  5. Based on data sourced from the FishStat database, FAO.
  6. "SS09.06 shrimp study." SS09.06 shrimp study. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 December 2013. <http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/press_release/2009/SciSpot/SS0906/>.
  7. Emily Pidgeon, Conservation International