Indian ocean in Danger

Marine scientists have expressed concern over the fast warming of the Indian Ocean, which, according to them, may lead to species extinction.

Speaking at the opening session of a winter school on climate change in marine fisheries organised by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) here, they said climate change had been affecting Indian fisheries through changes in stock productivity and distribution, said a press release here.

Inaugurating the 21-day programme, which will provide a platform for academic-oriented discussions on a wide array of topics on the impact of climate change on marine fisheries, A. Ramachandran, Vice Chancellor, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), said climate change was causing floods and drought across the globe.According to him, the rise in water temperature and higher carbon dioxide concentration are making the ocean more acidic. He warned of a drop in productivity in the future owing to a gradual damage to the ecosystem and biodiversity.A.  CMFRI representative, said the Indian ocean was warming (0.11°C per decade) faster than the Atlantic (0.07°C per decade) and the Pacific (0.05°C per decade), and that the sea surface temperature in the Indian Ocean would increase by 0.60oC by 2050.“However, Indian marine fish harvesting is more eco-friendly compared to the global fishing scenario. Our marine fisheries emit 17.5% less carbon footprints compared to the global average when it comes to fishing materials involved,” he said.CMFRI has catalogued resource-wise information, and the Institute is in the process of predicting fish biomass changes in oceans in the future. CMFRI has also prepared adaptation strategies to climate change with an action plan.