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NEWS
Coral trout speared off Sydney
All the science and evidence suggests that the 'tropicalisation' of our temperate waterways is underwaySydney Harbour and its myriad reefs, coastal harbours, bays and estuaries could become tropical within decades, report Adriana Vergés, a lecturer in marine ecology at UNSW Australia, and Alex Sen Gupta, a Senior Lecturer from the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at UNSW Australia.
But it’s not just the academics that are foreshadowing the change to our oceans. Citizen science is playing an increasing role and the latest evidence, a coral trout taken in a dive competition (pictured) off Sydney is a portent to the future, marine scientists say.
Anglers have for years enjoyed seasonal visits from sub-tropical species like spotted and the odd Spanish mackerel, pearl perch, mangrove jack, giant herring, various sweetlip and cod. But the appearance of a coral trout and one so large is a first as far as the scientists are concerned (there were recordings in the early 1900s but they are thought to be at fish markets only).
While the tropicalisation of Sydney’s waterways sounds like it could be a boon to angling and diving, there is a very real downside warn Vergés and Gupta in an article published about this very thing recently.
In an article published in the Conversation last year, the two marine experts wrote that ocean temperatures off Sydney are just decades away from becoming "tropical".
Winter sea surface temperatures will consistently exceed 18C between 2020 and 2030 and summer sea surface temperatures will consistently exceed 25C between 2040 and 2060, according to the climate models they used.
"Nobody would complain if the only consequence of climate change was more species of marine life — greater biodiversity. However with these gains also come substantial losses. And the biggest losers are underwater algal forests," the article said.
Kelp forests will vanish and with them a host of temperate species. The ecology will change due to tropicalisation and the arrival of algae-grazing parrotfish might denude the reefs as we know them. Abalone fisheries will suffer and many other species will be hard to find. More at https://theconversation.com/sydneys-waters-could-be-tropical-in-decades-heres-the-bad-news-31523..
Meanwhile, www.redmap.org.au has been set-up to monitor fish migration beyond their current boundaries. If you catch a fish out of its range contact www.redmap.org.au to record it. The site and its social media pages are well worth a look.
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Written byBoatsales Staff
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