Atlantic bluefin tuna are changing distribution in response to climate change and making a progressive northward shift, according to a new study.
The study by scientists at the Spanish scientific and technological centre, AZTI, highlights the need to incorporate this factor into fisheries management to ensure the sustainability of one of the world’s most economically valuable marine species.
The research published in the journal Fish and Fisheries finds that the two main spawning grounds for bluefin tuna – the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Mexico – could be far less suitable for adult fish to reproduce.
“Bluefin tuna show a strong capacity to adapt, but our projections indicate that climate change is altering the balance between feeding areas, spawning grounds and fishing activity,” the study’s lead author, Dr Maite Erauskin-Extramiana, has said.
Regions such as Greenland and northern Europe may become increasingly important for Atlantic bluefin tuna persistence and expansion, the study says.
“These distributional changes could challenge current international agreements and quota systems, underscoring the need for adaptive, climate‐resilient management strategies,” it says.
The full study is here
