Climate Change Puts Large Ocean Predators at Risk, New Studies Reveal
Recently published studies have found that the Earth’s warming oceans pose increasing threats to some of the world’s most feared and fascinating predators. One study, led by Camrin Braun, an assistant scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, discovered that large sharks, tunas, and other predators make more frequent deep dives into the ocean than previously understood. Their study also found evidence that disruptions to ocean ecosystems due to climate change and mining could pose a significant threat to species at the top of the ocean food chain, impacting both conservation and commercial fishing efforts.
Another internationally based study, carried out in Ireland, investigated the family lineage and biology of smalltooth sand tiger sharks and linked increasing sightings of these sharks in the region to the warming of the world’s oceans. The results of the study found that the sharks might share a unique trait with the white shark and megalodon shark, which allowed them to keep certain areas of their bodies warmer than the surrounding ocean. These findings have raised concerns about the potential impact of warming seas on the survival of these and other shark species. Scientists are alarmed by the increasing presence of the smalltooth sand tiger sharks in regions they had previously not inhabited.
The revelation of these studies adds to a growing body of research that points to the negative effects of climate change and human activities on ocean ecosystems. The rise in sea temperatures has the potential to fundamentally alter the habitat of several species of sharks and other highly migratory predators, impacting regions such as the U.S. Coast and the Gulf of Mexico.
Andrew Clayton, project director of international fisheries for The Pew Charitable Trusts, emphasizes the pressing need for better global and regional management to address these growing concerns. There is a need for precautionary action in managing the fishing of top predators and leaving enough fish for them to thrive. Additionally, researchers are noting the potential risks involved in commercially harvesting fish in the twilight zone before understanding the potential impact on the predators that depend on the ecosystem at that moment. The studies are urging a more careful and considerate approach in dealing with the effects of climate change and protecting the ocean’s most vulnerable inhabitants.