August 2021 — Fleeing Fish
As ocean warming causes fish stocks to migrate toward cooler waters to maintain their preferred thermal environment, many of the nations that rely on commercial fish species as an integral part of their economy could suffer.
A new study published in Nature Sustainability from the University of Delaware, the University of California, Santa Barbara and Hokkaido University, shows that nations in the tropics — especially Northwest African nations — are especially vulnerable to this potential species loss due to climate change. Not only are tropical countries at risk for the loss of fish stocks, the study found there are not currently any adequate policy interventions to help mitigate affected countries’ potential losses.
Kimberly Oremus, assistant professor in the School of Marine Science and Policy in UD’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment, explained that when the researchers looked at international agreements, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, they found no specific text for what happens when fish leave a country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a zone established to give a country national jurisdiction over a fishery resource.
That means countries could be vulnerable to economic losses, and those potential losses could make the fish populations themselves vulnerable as well.
While the exit of stocks from national fisheries is inevitable, carefully designed international cooperation could ease the impact on individual nations while preserving the resource for others.
To learn more, check out the latest episode of SeaTalk.
Notable Dates in August
August 5 — National Oyster Day is dedicated to celebrating these popular bivalve mollusks, of which there are over 200 species across the world. Learn more about how DESG is supporting oyster aquaculture in Delaware, and check out our Seafood Health Facts resource page.
August 25 — The Inland Bays Oyster Experience will feature a visit to an open-water shellfish lease areas where participants will have a chance to meet an oyster farmer and learn about the process of growing these tasty bivalves from seed to market. Click here to learn more and register
August 25 — Join Dave Wilson of Delmarva Birding Weekends for a tour focused on the birds, basking turtles and other wildlife of late summer along Broad Creek in Broad Creek Excursions. Learn more about the event and register at this link
August 28 — Join Tommy Thompson, local historian and Associate Member of the Nanticoke Indian Tribe, and DESG’s Ed Lewandowski for the second Broad Creek Excursions event in August, a paddle through the history of Broad Creek as it has been passed down from the First Peoples, the Nanticokes. Click here to learn more and register
August 28 — The 5th annual Paddlefest is a go! Paddlefest 2021 is a 4.25-mile kayaking adventure through the salt marsh creeks of Delaware Seashore State Park, with Park staff stationed along the way to talk about points of interest. Visit the official site to learn more and register