Pacific Saury Facing Shrinking Future Due to Climate Change
The beloved Pacific saury, a seasonal delicacy in Japan during autumn, is facing a shrinking future due to climate change. Rising sea temperatures are impacting the zooplankton that the fish rely on for food, leading to concerns about their size and population.
Researchers, led by Hokkaido University's Atsushi Yamaguchi, have observed that the zooplankton species crucial to saury's diet are becoming increasingly scarce as water temperatures rise. This scarcity is attributed to the zooplankton's struggle to adapt to warmer waters.
The research team conducted an experiment where they monitored the growth rate of different zooplankton species at varying water temperatures. The results revealed that while some species thrived in warmer waters, the highly nutritious Neocalanus plumchrus, a favorite food source for saury, experienced a significant decline in growth rate.
Furthermore, the researchers believe that frequent ocean heat waves in the North Pacific are contributing to the decline in saury populations. These heat waves push Neocalanus plumchrus deeper into the ocean, making them less accessible to the fish.
The study's findings, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, raise concerns about the future of Pacific saury. The fish's shrinking size and population could have significant implications for both the ecosystem and the Japanese culinary tradition.