Latest news with #BryonyTownhill
The Independent
2 hours ago
- Science
- The Independent
More sharks are expected in UK waters. Here's why
A new study by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) predicts that rising ocean temperatures will cause shifts in marine species distribution around the UK by 2060. The study, published in Marine Biology, indicates that some species like oysters, basking sharks, and thornbacks will thrive in warmer waters. Others, such as ocean quahogs and sea pens, are expected to struggle. The North Sea is warming rapidly, becoming one of the top 20 fastest-warming areas globally, with May seeing UK waters up to four degrees warmer. Marine scientist Bryony Townhill of Cefas notes the significant impact of these changes on the UK, given its reliance on the sea for food and jobs.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- Science
- The Independent
UK to see increase in sharks, rays and native oysters due to rising sea temperatures
Rising ocean temperatures could see animals such as endangered sharks and native oysters migrate to the UK. Parts of the North Sea could become biodiversity hotspots in the next 50 years, as the water around the UK becomes one of the top 20 places globally that has warmed the fastest due to the impact of climate change. It comes after an intense heatwave in May warmed UK waters by up to four degrees, while fishing communities have already spotted a difference as swarms of jellyfish or the Mediterranean octopus begin to appear near beaches. In the first study of its kind, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) mapped how 19 threatened marine species will respond to the change in UK seas by 2060. While oysters, basking sharks, spurdog sharks and thornbacks - a type of ray with spines - will thrive, other animals such as the long-lasting ocean quahog, a type of clam, will struggle. A sea pen, which is a small creature that helps build reefs, is predicted to lose up to 40 per cent of their suitable habitat by the turn of the next century, which will have an impact on marine ecosystems. It is not only the UK's seas that are warming, with temperatures increasing across the globe as the ocean absorbs 90 per cent of heating created by fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas. "As an island nation, we're hugely reliant on the sea for our food and for jobs. Any changes that we see in our seas are particularly impactful," Bryony Townhill, marine scientist at Cefas, told BBC News. The analysis, which has been published in the science journal Marine Biology, should assist the government as it plans to ensure that Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) continue to protect species. Researchers however have stressed that these vulnerable species must still be protected from risks such as pollution and fishing equipment as they adapt to new habitats.
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Science
- BBC News
Sharks and oysters set to thrive in warmer UK waters
The UK could see a boom in endangered sharks, rays and native oysters as species move habitats to respond to rising ocean temperatures, according to some, including a clam that is the world's longest living animal, could struggle to at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science mapped for the first time how 19 threatened marine species will respond to climate change in UK creatures could find new homes in parts of the North Sea predicted to become biodiversity hotspots in the next 50 years, although the disruption from climate change could also have negative knock-on effects on the marine ecosystem. In May an intense heatwave warmed UK waters up to 4 degrees warmer than usual."As an island nation, we're hugely reliant on the sea for our food and for jobs. Any changes that we see in our seas are particularly impactful," Bryony Townhill, marine scientist at Cefas, told BBC analysis should guide the government as it plans how to ensure so-called Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) continue to protect species even as they change world's oceans are warming as they have absorbed up to 90% of the additional heating created when humans burn fossil fuels like oil, coal and UK seas are a hotspot for these effects of climate change and are among 20 places globally that have warmed fastest over the past 50 communities and sea swimmers have already noticed the difference, with reports of jellyfish swarming near beaches or Mediterranean octopus hauled up in fish this report, scientists looked at two different projections for sea temperatures, salinity and sediment levels until 2060. They compared the changing ocean environment to the preferred habitats of 19 species that are currently vulnerable in the biggest winners are the native oysters, basking sharks, spurdog sharks - which can grow up to 1.6 meters - and thornbacks - a type of ray with mobile species will cope better, whereas static creatures will find it harder to adapt.A small creature called a sea pen, which helps to build reefs, could lose up to 40% of their suitable habitat by the end of the the ocean quahog, a type of clam that can live more than 500 years, making it the longest living animal, is predicted to struggle.A decline in those species could have knock-on impacts on ecosystems and food scientists were surprised by some of the results."I didn't expect that native oysters would do well. Frankly, they've been declining and disappearing for 100 years - and yet the climate model suggests they should be doing fine and perhaps even thriving," says Prof Pinnegar. But he is careful to add that although there are potential new habitats, these vulnerable species must still be protected from threats like fishing equipment, disease or pollution."We're not necessarily promising an increase in numbers - the seas still need to be managed carefully and other pressures reduced if the creatures are to thrive in new habitats," he movement of these 19 marine species is likely to have a knock-on effect on coastal communities in the North Sea, including potentially bigger fish catches, according to Dr findings are published in the science journal Marine Biology.
