China: Temperature rise might lead to fish stock change in North Sea

As the North Sea becomes warmer in the future, some species of fish commonly seen in the area will be replaced by other species, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change.

The report said temperature of the world's oceans has gradually risen through the 20th century, the northeast Atlantic has experienced particularly intense warming. Predictions for the North Sea suggest a further 1.8 degrees centigrade rise in sea surface temperatures during the next five decades.

Researchers from the University of Exeter who led the study compared long-term data on popular North Sea fish, including haddock, hake, lemon sole, plaice and dab, with climate model projections from the Met Office.

They found that those types of fish will decline due to the warmer temperatures in the North sea. Researchers said many types of fish will not be able to cope with the changing environment, and their numbers will gradually decline.

Instead, fish like John Dory, red mullet, and sardines would become more common in the North Sea, the environment of which is predicted to become more like waters around Spain and Portugal, according to the study.

Since haddock, hake and lemon sole are traditional favorites on the British menu, local people may have to change their diet, a sign that climate change is having an impact on people's daily life.