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Marrakech – A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports has shed light on the impact of climate change on the distribution of small pelagic fish, particularly sardines, along the coast of Northwest Africa.
The research, led by scientists from various institutions in Senegal, France, Norway, Morocco, Mauritania, and The Gambia, analyzed data from 2,363 trawl samplings and 170,000 km of acoustic sea surveys conducted between 1995 and 2015.
The study found that the southern part of the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME), which extends from Morocco to Senegal, has experienced significant warming over the past 34 years. This warming trend has been accompanied by changes in wind speed and upwelling intensity, particularly in the areas where coastal upwelling was already the strongest.
One of the key findings of the study is the northward shift in the distribution of sardines (Sardinella aurita) and other small pelagic fish species.
The study observed a significant displacement of the northern limit of Sardinella aurita, which moved northward at a rate of 181 km per decade since 1995.
The researchers attribute this shift to the long-term warming trends in sea surface temperature (SST) and a decrease in marine productivity in the southern regions of the CCLME. The study also found that the abundance of sardines has increased in the subtropics and decreased in the intertropical region.
The study also emphasized the importance of these findings for the management of shared fish stocks in the region. The spatial shifts in biomass observed for sardines and other exploited small pelagic species add a new threat to these recently overexploited fish stocks, making sustainable management more difficult, the researchers said.
Additionally, the study highlighted the potential impacts of these changes on food security in West African countries that share the same fish stocks. Such changes must motivate common regional policy considerations for food security and sovereignty in all West African countries sharing the same stocks, the scientists added.
The northward shift in sardine populations has significant implications for Morocco, which has seen an increase in sardine catches in recent years. The study noted that the exceptional presence of sardines up to Casablanca in 2015 is likely related to the northward shift in their distribution observed in this study.
The researchers emphasize the need for increased awareness, more frequent and regular monitoring, and focused research efforts on small pelagic fish in West Africa.
They argue that such efforts are essential for understanding the responses of this highly dynamic marine ecosystem, ensuring the sustainability of vital fishery resources, and safeguarding the well-being of coastal communities in the face of climate change.
The study’s finndings and warnings about protecting this vital marine ecosystem come at a vital turning point, when Morocco, along with the rest of northwestern Africa, is experiencing unprecdented effects of global warming, including drought, desertification, and sea level rise among others.
Read also: Study: Switching from Red Meat to Sardines Could Save 750,000 Lives a Year
