Overfishing and climate change impacts on New Zealand’s fish populations were hidden – until now
An international team of researchers shows that, despite ocean water temperature around the island country modestly increasing by 0.04°C per decade from 1950–2019, the presence of warmer-climate species is a clear indicator of the impacts of climate change on marine life.
Climate change will have an adverse impact on trophic amplification in marine food webs
Climate-driven changes in ocean environmental conditions — ocean warming, deoxygenation and acidification — are projected to affect the physiological functions of marine organisms, their geographic distributions, biological life cycles and total biomass.
New FCRR: Understanding the fishers to change the fishery in the bottom trawl industry in India
The report unravels the drivers and motivations that entice fishers and the fishery to start, engage in, and stop bottom trawling in India. Understanding the nuances within communities rather than viewing them as one entity is paramount for designing equitable policies. Moreover, the study highlights a pressing reality: fishers do not always want to fish and are sometimes forced to remain in the bottom trawl industry. Recognizing and addressing these insights are paramount in effectively constraining bottom trawling.
Market-based solution makes the case for blue carbon
Over 120 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent could be sequestered every year by 2050 by applying a market-based solution (MBS) to global fisheries that would allow fishers to decide whether – at certain times – it is more profitable to go fish or to remain at port.
Salmon bones confirm sustainable chum fishery for 2,500 years under Tsleil-Waututh Nation
New research confirms that Tsleil-Waututh Nation has consistently and sustainably fished for chum salmon for 1,200 years longer than the archaeological record had previously demonstrated
Fish buffered from recent marine heatwaves, showing there’s still time to act on climate change
Fish were surprisingly resilient to marine heatwaves before 2019, highlighting the need to keep seas from warming further, according to new research.
Dr. Andea Reid appointed Tier 2 Canada Research Chair with additional awards for research on Indigenous fisheries conversation
Dr. Andrea Reid of the Nisg̱a’a Nation is one of UBC’s newest Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs (CRC). She also receives a grant through the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF).
Dr. Brian Hunt receives NSERC Discovery Grant to research the impacts of urbanization on the coastal ocean
Dr. Brian Hunt will receive an NSERC Discovery Grant for work on the impacts of urbanization on coastal oceans, specifically regarding ocean cities.
Fish species show surprisingly narrow combination of traits
The world’s waterbodies are filled with predatory fish feeding on other animals from zooplankton to squid and other fish, while “vegetarian” or herbivore fish are rare. Researchers has analyzed the key traits – size, productivity and trophic level – of over 31,000 fish species recorded in FishBase.
New FCRR: Implementation of CITES Appendix II listing for seahorses in the context of export bans and suspensions
Despite measures taken by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), most dried seahorse exports appear to have gone underground, and smuggling is now the norm. The report explores the many reasons driving this illegal trade and then identifies ways forward.