Climate change causing significant number of fish populations to migrate northward: Study

A recent study by the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) and the Arctic University of Norway reveals that climate change is driving a significant migration of fish populations northward, Anadolu Agency reported yesterday. Over the past 30 years, warmer seas have led to a notable increase in fish species along the Norwegian coast, with 15 different species now recorded, up from just seven.

The study analyzed 25 years of data from coastal surveys, highlighting a rise in species richness in northern waters. IMR researcher Ulf Lindstrom notes that trawl catches now include species like sprat and silver hake in northern regions, a shift attributed to rising temperatures.

While this migration poses challenges for established local fish stocks, such as vulnerable coastal cod, it also presents new opportunities for fisheries. The researchers stress the need for incorporating climate change impacts into future management strategies, warning against repeating past mistakes, like the collapse of the Gulf of Maine cod stock.