Estuaries on the south-east coast of Australia are warming at twice the rate of oceans and the atmosphere, a new study has found.
Estuaries on the south-east coast of Australia are warming at twice the rate of oceans and the atmosphere, a new study has found.
Researchers say the apparent accelerated impact from climate change on estuaries could adversely affect economic activity and ecological biodiversity in rivers and lakes worldwide.
Dr Elliot Scanes from the University of Sydney said: “Our research shows that estuaries are particularly vulnerable to a warming environment. This is a concern not only for the marine and bird life that rely on them but the millions of people who depend on rivers, lakes and lagoons for their livelihoods around the world.”
The researchers say that changes in estuarine temperature, acidity and salinity are likely to reduce the global profitability of aquaculture and wild fisheries. Global aquaculture is worth $US243.5 billion a year and wild fisheries, much of which occurs in estuaries, is worth $US152 billion. More than 55 million people globally rely on these industries for income.
In NSW estuaries, aquaculture and fisheries are worth more than $A100 million a year.
Read more at University Of Sydney
Photo: NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment officer collecting data at Bengello, near Batemans Bay. Photo courtesy NSW DPIE
