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Synergistic Effects of Climate and Fishing in a Marine Ecosystem

Ecosystems volume 12, pages 548–561 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Current climate change and overfishing are affecting the productivity and structure of marine ecosystems. This situation is unprecedented for the marine biosphere and it is essential to understand the mechanisms and pathways by which ecosystems respond. We report that climate change and overfishing are likely to be responsible for a rapid restructuring of a highly productive marine ecosystem with effects throughout the pelagos and the benthos. In the mid-1980s, climate change, consequent modifications in the North Sea plankton, and fishing, all reduced North Sea cod recruitment. In this region, production of many benthic species respond positively and immediately to temperature. Analysis of a long-term, spatially extensive biological (plankton and cod) and physical (sea surface temperature) dataset suggests that synchronous changes in cod numbers and sea temperature have established an extensive trophic cascade favoring lower trophic level groups over economic fisheries. A proliferation of jellyfish that we detect may signal the climax of these changes. This modified North Sea ecology may provide a clear indication of the synergistic consequences of coincident climate change and overfishing. The extent of the ecosystem restructuring that has occurred in the North Sea suggests we are unlikely to reverse current climate and human-induced effects through ecosystem resource management in the short term. Rather, we should understand and adapt to new ecological regimes. This implies that fisheries management policies will have to be fully integrated with the ecological consequences of climate change to prevent a similar collapse in an exploited marine ecosystem elsewhere.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the owners, masters, and crews of the ships that tow the Continuous Plankton Recorder on a voluntary basis. R.R.K. is a Royal Society Research Fellow. We also thank three anonymous reviewers for useful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK

    Richard R. Kirby

  2. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire d’Océanologie et de Géosciences’ UMR LOG CNRS 8187, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille 1, Station Marine, BP 80, 62930, Lille 1, Wimereux, France

    Gregory Beaugrand

  3. The Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, The Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK

    John A. Lindley

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  1. Richard R. Kirby
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  2. Gregory Beaugrand
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Correspondence to Richard R. Kirby.

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Author Contributions

RRK conceived the project and GB analysed the data. RRK, GB and JAL co-wrote the paper.

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Kirby, R.R., Beaugrand, G. & Lindley, J.A. Synergistic Effects of Climate and Fishing in a Marine Ecosystem. Ecosystems 12, 548–561 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-009-9241-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-009-9241-9

Keywords

  • climate change
  • cod
  • fisheries management
  • plankton
  • temperature
  • trophic cascade