New climate model projections identifying the drivers for non-uniform Indian and Arabian ocean warming could facilitate better marine resource management. However, researchers warn that nutrient deficits could sweep across regions highly dependent on fish for daily survival.
Korean and Japanese researchers and scientists from Pusan National University used a large ensemble of simulations of the Community Earth System Model 2 (CESM2) and found distinct underlying mechanisms controlling the warming patterns. The model predicted non-uniform warming of the Indian Ocean with warming hotspots in the Arabian Sea and the southeastern Indian Ocean.
While changes in the ocean circulation patterns would amplify the warming in the Arabian Sea, reduced low cloud cover-induced heat fluctuations would lead to warming of the southeastern Indian Ocean.
Nutrition Insight speaks with Daniel Viana, a marine conservation scientist at the World Wildlife Fund and co-author of a recent study published in Scientific Reports titled “Nutrient Supply from Marine Small-Scale Fisheries,” who takes a stance on the consequences ocean warming pattern changes have on habitats and fishing practices.
“Ocean warming can lead to habitat degradation (for example, in coral reefs) and disrupt the natural reproductive and feeding patterns of fish species affecting their local abundance and distribution.”
“Geographical shifts of fish stocks can lead to a decline in catch and loss of livelihoods for fishing communities that depend on small-scale fisheries. Better governance over ocean resources decreases local stressors, thus allowing fish stocks a better chance to cope with the effects of ocean warming,” notes Viana.
Better governance involves adopting strategies that enable fish stocks and ecosystems to resist and recover from disturbances caused by warming oceans. Implementing sustainable Marine Protected Areas, Territorial Use Rights for Fisheries and Locally Managed Marine Areas help local fishing communities protect and manage critical habitats.
The researchers caution there needs to be more understanding of the mechanisms that can lead to warming patterns found in their model and how they affect the weather in adjacent land areas. Hotspots have been identified in the Arabian Sea and southeastern Indian Ocean.