Ocean Warming Devastates Fish: 7.2% Drop Per 0.1C!

Chronic ocean warming is leading to a "staggering and deeply concerning" loss of marine life, a recent study has found. Fish biomass has declined by 7.2% for every 0.1C of warming per decade, based on research examining 33,000 populations in the northern hemisphere from 1993 to 2021. The findings indicate that the faster the seabed warms, the more rapidly fish populations diminish.

Researchers also noted that marine heatwaves can create temporary increases in some fish populations, particularly in colder regions. However, these short-term gains mask a larger, ongoing decline caused by climate breakdown. This dynamic poses a risk for effective ocean governance, as temporary booms might obscure the underlying trend of biomass reduction.

Experts emphasize that ocean warming exacerbates the existing crisis of overfishing. While historically overfishing has been the primary driver of declining fish stocks, rising ocean temperatures and deoxygenation are intensifying the problem. Scientists warn that even small fractions of a degree of warming have severe biological consequences, making future fish population losses difficult to rectify through management plans.