Rapid Ocean Warming: Effects on Sea Level Rise and Fishing

Rising water levels and their impact on fishing and various fish and bird species highlight the critical importance of ocean warming. What actions can we take to mitigate these devastating effects?

Alarm Sounded: Ocean Warming Accelerates

Ocean warming, once a peripheral concern, is now reaching alarming levels. This complex issue encompasses rising sea levels, impacts on fisheries, and effects on certain fish and bird species, demanding immediate attention.

Ocean Warming on the Rise

The latest report from the European Copernicus Observatory, released on September 30, 2024, reveals a disturbing trend: the rate of ocean warming has nearly doubled since 2005. In 2023, a severe heatwave affected over one-fifth of the global ocean surface.

“Ocean warming should be viewed as a sentinel for climate change,” stated oceanographer Karina Von Schuckmann during the release of Copernicus’s 8th ocean state report. “It has been consistently rising since the 1960s, with rates doubling around 2005,” she emphasized.

Consequences of a Warmer Ocean

Warmer oceans result in more frequent and intense extreme weather events such as hurricanes and storms, along with an increase in marine heatwaves. In 2023, 22% of the world’s oceans experienced at least one severe or extreme heatwave.

The duration and extent of marine heatwaves are expanding, with the maximum annual average duration doubling since 2008 from 20 to 40 days. These heatwaves can trigger mass mortality events and migrations of species, degrade ecosystems, and disrupt nutrient distribution.

Increased Ocean Acidity

Beyond warming, ocean acidity has increased by 30% since 1985, according to a report from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). The oceans, absorbing a quarter of CO2 emissions from human activities, are becoming corrosive to the skeletons and shells of corals, mussels, oysters, and more. This threshold, considered a “planetary boundary,” is expected to be crossed “in the near future.”

The warming of our oceans is a critical issue that requires urgent action. It is time to recognize the urgency and act to protect our planet.