April 20, 2022
Climate change is affecting where fish live, what they eat, and how many of them survive in the ocean. Learn more about what is changing and what we are doing to understand the effects of climate change on fish stocks.
Scientists sample for pollock. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Fisheries contribute more than $240 billion in economic activity in the United States every year. They support 1.7 million jobs and robust coastal economies, while providing 9.3 billion pounds of seafood for consumers. But these fisheries are at risk due to climate change. Rising temperatures have shifted weather patterns, ocean currents, and even where fish live. They also affect the communities that rely on these fish for their livelihoods.
A Southern Resident killer whale leaps out of the water. Credit: Candace Emmons
Mother and calf humpback whales near Maui, Hawaii. Humpback whales in the Pacific Ocean swim approximately 3,000 miles from Alaska to Hawaii to spend the winter in the warmer tropical waters. Credit: Jason Moore (NOAA permit #18786)
An oceanic whitetip shark swims near the surface of the water. Photo courtesy of John Carlson.
A bidder checks the quality of tuna at the Honolulu Fish Auction. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
