CLIMATE CHANGE AND COLD WATER FISH CLIMATE … brochure cc-and-coldwater-fish[1].pdfrents could...
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CLIMATE CHANGE AND COLD WATER FISH Aquatic ecosystems will be affected by climate change. The distribution of freshwater species is likely to shift northward, with some extinctions of local species likely throughout the southern ranges of these species and expansion in their northern ranges. Warmer freshwater temperatures and changes in the pattern of flows in spawning rivers could reduce the abundance of species like salmon, trout, and bass. For example, an 8˚F increase in mean annual air temperature is projected to eliminate more than 50 percent of the habitat of brook trout in the southern Appalachian Mountains. In addition, projected changes in water temperatures, salinity, and cur- rents could affect the growth, sur- vival, reproduction, and distribution of marine fish species and their com- petitors and predators. The survival, health, migration, and distribution of many North American marine mammals and sea turtles also are expected to be affected by pro- jected changes in the climate through impacts on their food supply, sea-ice meltdowns, and breeding or nesting habitats. CLIMATE CHANGE: The loss of fishing opportunities due to climate-induced changes in fish- eries could be severe in some parts of the country, especially at the south- ern boundaries of the habitat ranges of cool- and cold-water species. Although gains in warm-water fishing opportunities may offset overall loss- es in cold-water fishing opportuni- ties, the potential effects on specific localized regions are cause for concern. For example, cold water fish habitats could be lost entirely in such states as Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ohio, and Nebraska. Presently, more than 750,000 people fish for trout in those states each year. How many people would or could switch to a warm water species is uncertain. What can you do? Help reduce green- house gases. Use a more fuel-effi- cient (or non-motorized!) mode of transportation. Carpool . Purchase electronic devices and appliances with the ENERGY STAR ® label. Plant trees. Educate yourself and others about climate impacts. Share research and encourage more of it. WHAT MIGHT WE LOSE?
Transcript of CLIMATE CHANGE AND COLD WATER FISH CLIMATE … brochure cc-and-coldwater-fish[1].pdfrents could...
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CLIMATE CHANGE AND COLD WATER FISH
Aquatic ecosystems will be affectedby climate change. The distributionof freshwater species is likely to shiftnorthward, with some extinctions oflocal species likely throughout thesouthern ranges of these species andexpansion in their northern ranges.
Warmer freshwater temperatures andchanges in the pattern of flows inspawning rivers could reduce theabundance of species like salmon,trout, and bass.
For example, an 8˚F increase in meanannual air temperature is projected toeliminate more than 50 percent ofthe habitat of brook trout in thesouthern Appalachian Mountains.
In addition, projected changes inwater temperatures, salinity, and cur-rents could affect the growth, sur-vival, reproduction, and distributionof marine fish species and their com-petitors and predators.
The survival, health, migration, anddistribution of many North Americanmarine mammals and sea turtles alsoare expected to be affected by pro-jected changes in the climatethrough impacts on their food supply,sea-ice meltdowns, and breeding ornesting habitats.
CLIMATE CHANGE:
The loss of fishing opportunities dueto climate-induced changes in fish-eries could be severe in some parts ofthe country, especially at the south-ern boundaries of the habitat rangesof cool- and cold-water species.
Although gains in warm-water fishingopportunities may offset overall loss-es in cold-water fishing opportuni-ties, the potential effects on specificlocalized regions are cause for concern.
For example, cold water fish habitatscould be lost entirely in such statesas Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut,Ohio, and Nebraska. Presently, morethan 750,000 people fish for trout inthose states each year. How manypeople would or could switch to awarm water species is uncertain.
What can you do? Help reduce green-house gases. Use a more fuel-effi-cient (or non-motorized!) mode oftransportation. Carpool. Purchaseelectronic devices and applianceswith the ENERGY STAR® label. Planttrees. Educate yourself and othersabout climate impacts. Share researchand encourage more of it.
WHAT MIGHT WE LOSE?
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FOR MORE INFORMATION■ To keep up with the latest
scientific developments, check outEPA’s climate change website at www.epa.gov/globalwarming/.Click on impacts/fisheries/ for specific information on how climatechange may affect outdoor recreation and fishing. Or call EPA’sNational Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP)at 1-800-490-9198 and ask for information on climate change and fishing.
ClimateChange andCOLD WATERFISHIs Trout Fishing AnEndangered Sport?
United States EPA-236-F-99-002Environmental ProtectionAgency May 1999
Office of Policy (2171)
ClimateChange andCOLD WATERFISHIs Trout Fishing AnEndangered Sport?
CLIMATE CHANGE AND ECOSYSTEMS
POTENTIAL LOSS OF HABITATCold Water Fish
Thousands of scientists predict
that the earth’s climate will
change because human activities
are altering the chemical composi-
tion of the atmosphere through
the buildup of greenhouse gases.
The heat-trapping property of such
gases as carbon dioxide, methane,
nitrous oxide, and chloroflurocar-
bons is undisputed. Greenhouse
gases are released into the atmos-
phere in large quantities by
motorized vehicles, utilities, facto-
ries, appliances, and landfills.
Although there is uncertainty
about exactly how and when
the earth’s climate will respond
to higher concentrations of
greenhouse gases, observations
indicate that detectable
changes are underway.
Temperatures will most likely
rise by an average of 2 to 6˚F
over the next century, along
with measurable changes in
precipitation, soil moisture, and
sea level. All of these changes
could have adverse effects on
many ecological systems, as well
as on human health and the
economy.
Map: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1995. Ecological Impacts fromClimate Change: An Economic Analysis of Freshwater Recreational Fishing. EPA 220-R-95-004. Exhibit 2-26.
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■ 50-100% Loss ■ 1-49% Loss■ Not included in analysis
U.S. ENVIRONMENTALPROTECTION AGENCYOffice of Policy (2171)401 M Street, SWWashington, DC 20460
Printed on Recycled Paper
