KOCHI: Marine scientists attending the international conference here have warned of adverse impacts of climate change on fisheries wealth.
The experts, who spoke at a technical session on ‘Climate Resilient Fisheries’ held at the International Conference on Blue Economy which concluded on Saturday, stressed the need for framing strategies for protecting the ocean ecosystem and conserving the fishery wealth.
Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) organised the three-day international conference.
Dr P U Zacharia, a scientist from Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), said that pelagic fishes like mackerel, sardine, anchovies etc are alarmingly disappearing from the Kerala coasts due to ocean warming.
“It has been noticed that pelagic fishes are increasingly migrating from the Kerala coasts to the areas where the sea surface temperature is comparatively low. This has been taking a toll on fisheries wealth of the State”, he said. He pointed out that increase in sea surface temperature, excessive growth of algal blooms, coral bleaching and sea level rise caused destruction of ocean ecosystem.
Zacharia said that the diatom fragilaria oceanica, an indicator of abundance of Indian oil sardine, was decreasing along the coast.