Climate change to push fish away from Equator: Study

A new study has revealed that warmer seas will force species to migrate north and south of the equator. Earth’s oceans could become dead zones and eradicate marine life due to climate change, which would deplete oxygen.

For the study, the researchers used climate models to examine how changes in temperature and oxygen levels by 2100 might affect each species.

Their findings revealed that if current levels of greenhouse gas emissions continue, the near-surface ocean will warm by several degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

The viable habitats will shift away from the Equator, altering 14% to 26% of the current ranges of the fish. The study warned that the northern Pacific Ocean is likely to be worst hit.

According to the scientists, marine oxygen starvation is similar to mountaineers climbing Everest who require breathing apparatus to reach the summit.

Professor Curtis Deutsch, of the University of Washington, said, “If your metabolism goes up, you need more food and you need more oxygen. This means aquatic animals could become oxygen starved in the warmer future, even if oxygen does not change”.

The study focused on four Atlantic Ocean species, which include cod, rock crab, sharp snout seabream and common eelpout. These temperature and oxygen requirements of these species are well known from lab tests.