Fish Stocks Could Be Affected After Oceans Hit Hottest Temperature, Expert Warns

Experts have warned that fish supply could adversely be affected after oceans have hit its hottest temperature.

(Photo : Pexels/Jeremy Bishop)

According to a report on the BBC, the ocean temperature already reached 20.96 degree Celsius (69.73F), which is far above the average at this period of the year.

This temperature broke the record of 20.95 degree Celsius that was reached in 2016, scientists from the Copernicus climate modelling service have said.

Negative impacts

Given that oceans are considered as important in regulating the climate, experts raised concerns that the hot temperature would disturb marine species, which will later affect the food chain.

Once they feel the heat, fish and whales are likely to search for cooler water. Their movement will then have a negative impact on the fish stock on certain areas.

Ocean heating may also cause mass bleaching among coral reefs.

The report on The Guardian quoted Copernicus expert, Dr. Samantha Burgess, saying that the ocean could continue to get warmer in the coming months.

Initial research has found that oceans tend to have its hottest temperature during the month of March and not August.

Aside from its negative effects to fish supply, this will also mean more greenhouse gas in the atmosphere because warm waters tend to have less ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

Moreover, the warm oceans will also contribute to ice melting that can later cause a rise in the sea level.

It can be observed that the record-high temperature follows a series of marine heatwaves in various areas, such as the United Kingdom, the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean, as well as the Gulf of Mexico.

Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration noted that normal temperatures should range between 23 degree Celsius and 31 degree Celsius.

Records showed that marine heatwaves had doubled in frequency between 1982 and 2016. Experts said these marine heatwaves had become more intense and longer since the 1980s.

Read Also: Ocean Temperature Reaches "Point of No Return" as Climate Change Creates Irreversible Scenario

Possible cause of heating oceans

Investigations and studies are still ongoing to determine why the oceans are in their hottest temperature at present.

However, scientists see climate change as the possible main reason as it makes bodies of water warmer due to their absorption of most of the heat from greenhouse gas emissions.

Burgess warned that the more fossil fuels are burned, "the more excess heat will be taken out by the oceans, which means the longer it will take to stabilize them and get them back to where they were."

A CNN report also said that due to this phenomenon, researchers have already given a stern warning that the international community should prepare as ocean temperatures are seen to keep rising amid the El Niño, which is characterized by the abnormal warming of sea surface temperature in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean and below normal rainfall.

Experts said that the El Niño, which already started, was still weak and this means that ocean temperatures are expected to further increase above average in the next months.

They noted that some of the fast-warming areas are parts of the Arctic Ocean, the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and parts of the extra-tropical Pacific.

Related Article: Experts Warn of Severe Consequences as Ocean Temperatures Continue to Rise

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