Solomons, Md. (April 10, 2008) – Research by a team of graduate students at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Chesapeake Biological Laboratory warns of likely changes recreational saltwater fishermen can expect as climate change impacts the Atlantic coast.

“From increasing water temperatures, precipitation, and storm frequency and intensity, to the loss of coastal wetlands, climate change is going to have a significant impact on the current balance of our saltwater fisheries,” said Chesapeake Biological Laboratory’s Lisa Kerr – co-author on the fishery report. “We anticipate seeing shifts of some of recreational fisherman’s favorite species from their home waters, requiring fishermen to adapt, changing their preferred target species or traveling greater distances to fish.”

The report, Season’s End: Global Warming’s Threat to Hunting and Fishing, released today by the Washington-based Bipartisan Policy Center, combines research conducted by several university scientists and conservation organizations into a holistic look into changes facing America’s sportsmen and women.

A major portion of the report discussing saltwater fisheries is based on scholarship by UMCES Chesapeake Biological Laboratory graduate students William Connelly, Lisa Kerr, Ed Martino, Adam Peer and Ryan Woodland.

The report outlines several scientific projections over the next hundred years including:

Subsequent to only a moderate increase in water temperature, changes in distribution, growth rates and recruitment success will occur in many fish populations. Some species will benefit from climate-induced changes, whereas, others will experience population declines and possible local extinctions.

• Sea-level rise will result in the loss of coastal salt marshes and sea grass beds, important habitat for juvenile stages of many game fish.
• The prevalence of disease caused by marine bacteria, fungi and parasites may increase with rising water temperatures.
• Increasing temperatures will result in cold-water fish retreating from the southern boundaries of their ranges, while warm-water fish populations will expand into more northerly waters.
• More frequent and intense storms may benefit coastal spawning species, such as Atlantic croaker, that depend on winds to transport offspring into estuaries and coastal areas, while other species that require a more stable nursery environment may be adversely affected.
• Warming waters may encourage the prevalence of invasive species that compete for the prey and habitat of native saltwater game fish.

“It’s important that we encourage our younger scientists to explore developing scientific issues such as climate change and its impact on our fisheries,” said Chesapeake Biological Laboratory faculty member and project advisor Dr. David Secor. “This is the dominant environmental issue of their generation, and it is important for them to begin engaging the public in a discussion of future implications to our fisheries.”

Climate and Saltwater Sport Fisheries: Prognosis for Change by the UMCES Chesapeake Biological Laboratory team is online at http://www.cbl.umces.edu/cms108/images/stories/newsflash/sportfish-climate-prognosis_2007.pdf.

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science is the principal research institution for advanced environmental research and graduate studies within the University System of Maryland. UMCES researchers are helping improve our scientific understanding of Maryland, the region and the world through its three laboratories – Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons, Appalachian Laboratory in Frostburg, and Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge – and the Maryland Sea Grant College.

CONTACT:
Chris Conner
443-496-0095