Without significant steps to counteract climate change, a recent study predicted that global fish supplies would not be able to rebound to sustainable levels.
Researchers made predictions on the effects of various global temperature rises and the range of fishing activity on biomass, or the total number of fish by weight in a region, from 1950 to 2100.
According to their simulations, fish stocks in 103 of the 226 marine regions they analyzed, including Canada, have declined from their historical levels.
Under the levels of global warming predicted for the 21st century, these stocks will find it difficult to increase in number.
The Global fish stock can't recover from overfishing and climate change
(Photo : CHUTTERSNAP/Unsplash)
The impact of various global temperature rises, and ranges of fishing activity were predicted to vary from 1950 to 2100 on biomass, or the quantity of fish by weight in a given area, by researchers from UBC, Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, and University of Bern, as per ScienceDaily.
According to their simulations, fish stocks in 103 of the 226 marine regions they analyzed, including Canada, have declined below their historical levels.
Computer simulations were utilized by the research team, which also included Stanford Centre for Ocean Solutions co-author Dr. Colette Wabnitz, to determine the threshold of climate change about which overfished fish species cannot recover.
According to Dr. Cheung, the world is currently on course to warm by more than 1.5 degrees relative to preindustrial levels and to go close to two degrees in the coming decades.
The study predicted that, on average, the additional climate impacts on fish at 1.8 degrees Celsius warming will prevent fish stocks from rebuilding themselves when fisheries management focuses on the largest sustainable catch per year.
Computer simulations were utilized by the research team, which also included Stanford Centre for Ocean Solutions co-author Dr. Colette Wabnitz, to determine the threshold of climate change about which overfished fish species cannot recover.
The study predicted that, on average, the additional climate impacts on fish at 1.8 degrees Celsius warming will prevent fish stocks from rebuilding themselves when fisheries management focused on the largest sustainable catch per year.
Read More: Unexpected Fish and Squid Found Thriving in Rapidly Warming Central Arctic Ocean
Fisheries management in response to climate change
A system's resilience is its capacity to bounce back from change and adapt, even in the face of severe shocks.
Management and policy methods must take into consideration potential climatic impacts on a fisheries stock and the people who depend on it in order to increase a fishery's resilience to climate change, as per Walton Family Foundation.
Fisheries can suffer from the changing climate in a number of ways. Fish start to migrate away from their usual spawning grounds as ocean temperatures rise, potentially putting fishing communities in danger. Additionally, fish may breed less, and fish stocks may decrease.
The research underlined the need for enhanced fisheries governance and greater financial incentives to aid in fishers' adaptation as ways to lessen the impact on individuals and communities.
To lessen the strain on fish populations and support the maintenance of healthy stocks, it will be crucial to safeguard essential ocean habitats.
To effectively control when and where fish are collected, governments must also enhance fisheries surveillance.
Related Article: A Medieval Water Power Brought Down Salmon Stocks
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