Scientists’ warning for future of West Coast fish stocks

THE humble fish supper has become a staple of the Scottish diet and is loved across the country.

But scientists have now warned that cod, haddock and herring could vanish from UK waters within 85 years.

According to the Scottish Association for Marine Science, in Oban, Argyll, rising sea temperatures could see them migrate north to cooler waters by the turn of the century.

The researchers suggest that climate change has already pushed the fish to the ‘edge of their temperature tolerance range’.

But all is not lost for the nation’s fish and chip shops as the study also suggests that the species would ‘gradually’ be replaced by others, with popula-

‘Stocks predicted to collapse’

tions of pollock and hake quadrupling on the West Coast of Scotland since 1985.

The research was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

The paper’s lead author, marine ecologist Dr Natalia Serpetti, said: ‘Our results showed that warmer climate could jeopardise sustainable fishery management.

‘Even under the best case climate change scenario, cod and herring stocks were predicted to collapse off Scotland’s west coast.’

Stocks of cod, whiting and herring declined sharply in UK waters as a result of over-fishing, but they recovered after stock management measures were introduced.

In March this year, North Sea haddock was declared safe to eat by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), which certifies the sustainability of fish and seafood, saying consumers could buy the sea creatures with a ‘clear conscience’.