What & Who?

• Fish populations are declining as oceans warm
• Food and income are now at risk for millions of people
  • 17% of the global population’s intake of animal protein (up to 70% for coastal and tropical regions)
  • Northeast region of the Atlantic Ocean and the Sea of Japan have been greatly impacted (up to 35% decline)
  • In East Asia, where communities are very dependent on seafood, ecosystems have had a paramount decline in fisheries productivity.
• Due to warming waters, fish are expanding their range in search of favored temperatures.
• If ocean temps reach too high, fish can be killed off along with their food sources.

When, Where, & How?

• Warming waters, resulting from climate change, have led to declines in fish populations.
• Climate change greatly impacts marine life
  • 93% of the heat trapped by greenhouse gases is absorbed by the oceans
  • Free began this research while attending Rutgers University as a Ph.D. student.
  • 235 fish populations located in 38 ecological regions around the globe
  • Study separated other factors (overfishing) from the effects of warming waters
  • Research suggested that overfishing made fish more vulnerable to temp changes (hurt their ability to reproduce)
  • A measure developed by the UN was used to determine the amount of food that can be repeatedly harvested from a base population of fish
  • A quarter of the regions determined no significant changes in populations (northwest Atlantic)
  • Northeast Atlantic and Sea of Japan hit hardest (significant decline in sustainable catches)
  • “Overall, more populations of fish declined than increased over the eight decades in the study.”

Impact & Relevance to Society:

• Food source and income for millions is threatened
• Fish are a vital source of protein for many
• About 56 million are supported by marine fisheries
• “Having regulations that are adaptive to climate change is going to be really important for maximizing food potential.”

Relevance to Class:

• Discusses climate change and the impacts it can have on various species
• Many studies have focused on what will happen in the future as a result of climate change
  • This study reflects actual effects that are currently impacting the ecosystem

Questions this Article Raises:

• How could we potentially limit the warming?
  • Different study found that billions in extra revenue for fisheries could result from limiting warming to 2.7°F above preindustrial levels
    • Paris Climate Agreement goal
  • Would benefit people in developing countries where fish are a crucial protein source

Pierre-louis, Kendra. “The World Is Losing Fish to Eat as Oceans Warm, Study Finds.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 28 Feb. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/02/28/climate/fish-climate-change.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fclimate&action=click&contentCollection=climate®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=5&pgtype=sectionfront.