Fish will have to find new habitats or perish if global warming is left unchecked

Climate change is forcing fish out of their current habitats and into cooler waters and many more species will soon be affected if climate goals are not met, say scientists.

An international team of researchers compared the future of the oceans under two climate change scenarios. In one scenario, we limit atmospheric warming to two degrees by 2100, as outlined by the Copenhagen accord. In the other, we continue with the current approach, which researchers say would cause a five-degree increase in atmospheric temperatures. They say if warming continues unchecked, fish will migrate away from their current habitats 65 per cent faster, resulting in changes to biodiversity and ecosystem functions.

The new research, published today in Science, points to the need to limit emissions to help reduce the impact of rising atmospheric temperatures and acidifying oceans. The findings are intended to inform discussions at the upcoming 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris.

“All the species and services we get from the ocean will be impacted and everyone, including Canadians, who benefit from these goods and services are vulnerable,” said William Cheung, associate professor in the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, and co-director of the NF-UBC Nereus Program. “On a positive note, we still have options to substantially reduce these impacts now but the longer we wait the fewer and fewer options we have.”

This study was completed by the Oceans 2015 Initiative, an international team of researchers from Europe, Australia, the U.S., and Canada. Cheung and his colleague Rashid Sumaila, co-authors of the study, examined how climate change will impact fisheries and the many coastal communities that depend heavily on fisheries resources for food and economic security.

“From looking at the surface of the ocean, you can’t tell much is changing,” said Sumaila, professor in the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries and director of UBC’s Fisheries Economics Research Unit (FERU). “The oceans are closely tied to human systems and we’re putting communities at high risk.”

The researchers suggest taking action to protect marine ecosystems and to help communities adapt by providing education and training opportunities to diversify livelihood options. They also say it’s important to make every effort now to limit emissions.

“While some regions will see increases in some fish biomass, these gains may be only temporary if carbon dioxide emissions continues,” said Sumaila.

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