ANIMAL CONNECTION

Did you know U.S. South Atlantic waters have more dwindling fish populations than any other region in the nation?  Fish catches are expected to decline dramatically in the world’s tropical regions because of climate change, but may increase in the north.  This mega-shift in ocean productivity from south to north over the next three to four decades will leave those most reliant on fish, for both food and income, high and dry.  Here are some things I found out.  If you have comments or suggestions please let us know.

The shift has already been seen over the last 20 years.  Major shifts in fish populations will create a host of changes in ocean ecosystems likely resulting in species loss and problems for the people who now catch them.

Ten species are in critical need of protection — from black, red and gag grouper that make up the popular fish sandwich to the Warsaw grouper, a gentle giant that can grow nearly eight feet long and weigh up to 440 pounds. Additionally, red snapper populations have plummeted to just 3 percent of 1945 levels, and although they can live up to 54 years, few are older than 10. IF YOU WANT HELP.

In the first major study to examine the effects of climate change on ocean fisheries, a team of researchers from UBC and Princeton University discovered that catch potential will fall 40 percent in the tropics and may increase 30 to 70 percent in high latitude regions, affecting ocean food supply throughout the world by 2055.  They examined the impacts of rising ocean temperatures, changes in salinity and currents resulting from a warming climate.

A lot of people who live in the tropical area rely heavily on the oceans for their food. This new information shows that the food source will be highly affected because of climate change.

Countries facing the biggest loss in catch potential include Indonesia, the United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii), Chile and China.

Many oceanographers predict severe loss of coral reefs in coming decades due to rising acidity from emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Corals support about 25 to 33 percent of the oceans’ living creatures. We are already seeing a lot of this taking place around the Keys of Florida.  Around one billion people depend directly, and indirectly, on reefs for their livelihoods.

Here is a petition you can sign if you want to have an impact on this issue. YOU CAN TAKE ACTION FOR THE FISH

What will these poor people do if they can’t make a living, or can’t feed themselves because they also survive eating seafood?

In addition, industrial fisheries are scooping up enormous amounts of fish like  anchovies, herring, mackerel and other small fish so they can feed their farmed salmon.  Some turn the fish into animal feed or pet food.

These small fish contribute more than 50 percent of the total food fish supply in more than 36 countries in Africa, Asia and elsewhere. Especially hard-hit is sub-Saharan Africa, where more than half of the population receives 25 percent or more of its protein from fish.

In Mexico the poor people eat these small fish.  Now that the demand for these fish have increased so much the poor can’t afford to eat the fish.  They are also not getting the protein they need, which should be another concern.

Previous studies looking at impacts of climate change on the global food supply have mostly been done on land-based food sources.  These showed that tropical areas will see a decline in land productivity and there will be a significant decline in crops and there will be major price increases.

There are projections that warmer waters will boost fish catches substantially in Norway, Greenland, Alaska and the east coast of Russia. While greater catch potential in colder regions might appear beneficial, the authors caution that more research is needed to account for the multitude of dynamic factors that affect every ecosystem.

“While warmer waters might attract new species to colder regions, the rise in temperature might make the environment inhospitable to current species in the region that cannot move to areas to thrive.

Even if the northern ocean produces more in the future, it might not be enough to maintain current levels of fish for consumers

Regional fishery managers are currently working on important changes to fishing rules that would strengthen limits on the numbers of fish caught annually, prohibit fishing in some areas of the ocean where imperiled fish live and limit certain kinds of fishing so populations have time to replenish themselves.  YOU CAN HELP