UK: NWWAC highlights climate change issues on science assessment of cod

Frozen Cod

Seafood

United Kingdom

Published May 22, 2023

Tridge summary

NWWAC highlights climate change issues on the scientific assessment for cod stocks in the Celtic Seas ecoregion.

Original content

NWWAC highlights climate change issues on science assessment of cod. The North Western Waters Advisory Council has written to Ms Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries European Commission, on climate change implications in the scientific assessment for cod stocks in the Celtic Seas ecoregion. The letter from chairman Emiel Brouckaert states: “As mentioned in the 2022 ICES Celtic Seas ecoregion – Ecosystem Overview, climate change is already observable within some parts of the Celtic Seas ecoregion, with a mean annual sea surface temperature showing an overall upward trend of about +0.5°C since 1975. Cod preservation in the Celtic Seas is critically threatened by this, as the species’ temperature optimum is outside of the range of temperature values occurring in the Celtic Seas ecosystem . “This is especially true for cod reproduction, as the spawning cycle of this species is extremely fine-tuned, sophisticated and easily disturbed. The recent study ...

Source: Fish Focus