Warming waters a major factor in the collapse of New England cod
Thursday, October 29, 2015 - 15:20
in Earth & Climate
Today, cod stocks are on the verge of collapse, hovering at 3-4 percent of sustainable levels. Even cuts to the fishery have failed to slow this rapid decline, surprising both fishermen and fisheries managers. For the first time, a new report in Science explains why. It shows that rapid warming of Gulf of Maine waters -- 99 percent faster than anywhere else on the planet - reduced the capacity of cod to rebound from fishing, leading to collapse.