Climate Change Drives Northward Migration of Key Marine Species, Reveals New Study
ECOLOGY
8/6/2024
It is well-established that climate change will profoundly impact marine ecosystems and sectors reliant on them, such as the fishing industry. A study published in PLoS ONE in June 2024 by researchers from Hokkaido University confirms this, revealing shifts in the populations of commercially important fish and crab species in the Eastern Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea. Utilizing physical and biogeochemical data along with species abundance models, the researchers show that species such as Pacific cod and snow crabs are migrating northward—up to 80 kilometres per decade. Furthermore, temperature changes and sea ice loss are affecting these populations, with Pacific cod increasing in numbers while snow crabs decline. These findings underscore the urgent need for climate-based solutions, especially to safeguard the fishing industry and future food security.
