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Climate Change May Tank World's Fish Stocks

Scientists predict huge upheaval to marine populations

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 13, 2009 8:03 AM CST

(Newser) – The world's supplies of fish face major upheaval, scientists warn, as climate change forces species from shrimp to herring away from warming waters toward the poles. The BBC reports that in 40 years, American fishermen may see a 50% reduction in the population of Atlantic cod. "The impact of climate change on marine biodiversity and fisheries is going to be huge," said the study's lead author.

Yesterday in Chicago the marine biologists presented their findings, which used computer modeling to predict the future of more than 1,000 commercially harvested species. On average, fish may move poleward by 25 miles a decade, which could have a major effect on preexisting ecosystems. While Nordic countries would benefit from the changes, fisherman in tropical regions would suffer severe losses—which could have socioeconomic repercussions.

[Images (4)]

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Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, the world's largest. (©adactio)

Scientists at a conference in Chicago painted a bleak picture of the future of fishery, with poor countries hit hardest. (©adactio)

Scientists at a conference in Chicago painted a bleak picture of the future of fishery, with poor countries hit hardest. (©foxypar4)

Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, the world's largest. (©adactio)

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Economically, people in the tropics and subtropics likely will suffer most, because fish are so important in their diets and because they have limited capacity to develop other sources of income and food. - Edward Allison, policy director, WorldFish

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Climate Change May Tank World's Fish Stocks