Climate Change and Pacific Cod
Global warming affects everyone of us. Now I learn that pacific cod, my go-to fish for ceviche (recipe here), has gone up in price.
Kidding, of course. Here’s the serious side of this, from Alaska Public Radio:
In an unprecedented response to historically low numbers of Pacific cod, the federal cod fishery in the Gulf of Alaska is closing for the 2020 season. It’s a decision that came as little surprise, but it’s the first time the fishery has closed due to concerns of low stock. “We’re on the knife’s edge of this over-fished status,” North Pacific Fisheries Management Council member Nicole Kimball said during talks in Anchorage Friday afternoon.
It’s not over-fishing to blame for the die-off, but rather, climate change. Warming ocean temperatures linked to climate change are wreaking havoc on a number of Alaska’s fisheries, worrying biologists, locals and fishermen with low returns that jeopardize fishing livelihoods.
The actual number of different forms of damage to our ecosystems is unknown, though it’s certainly growing larger with time.
Craig,
You are correct when you say any disturbance to eco-systems needs to be objectively assessed.
Unfortunately, the media is only to eager to sensationalize every environmental occurrence with even the most tenuous connection with climate change.
Regrettably, a recent exchange between a passionate Australian climate change advocate/ marine biologist and myself at the Pacific Islands Forum, resulted in an unpleasant meltdown by the Biologist, (which is kinda sad since she is otherwise a very likable person).
Her meltdown occurred when a challenge arose regarding her claim that climate change, ocean warming etc was killing coral in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and coral world wide.
When asked how, a) her research had missed the same species of coral living in the much warmer water of the New Guinea Coast for millennia, B) had she studied the possibility of predator attack now proven to be the cause of Caribbean coral loss before blaming global warming, she went into an abusive meltdown. (I was going to ask her if she was any relation to Glenn Doty 🙂 ).
I felt sorry for her, as her previously adoring, mostly young audience, broke into warring factions between those who remained ‘true believers’ and dissenting doubters who after much Googling, grew louder and more assertive when armed with more accurate information.
Demanding all research remain objective and comprehensive isn’t easy. It’s like remaining sober at a orgy! (Not much fun!)
The danger of ignore alternate explanations, is as great as ignoring the effects of climate change.