The last 30 years there has been a steady increase in temperature in the North Atlantic. Together, the temperature rise in the Barents Sea since the early 1980s has been approximately 0.8 degrees, which has led to a number of marine species have moved further to the north.
Mette Sørensen at the University of Nordland. Photo: Martin Steinholt / NRK
– we see this year’s historic high temperatures, and it is high seawater temperatures, said Professor Mette Sørensen at the section of Aquaculture at the University of Nordland.
If greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current pace, the temperature in the Barents Sea will increase by as much as nine degrees by the end of this century. But even just one or two degrees increase would have serious consequences for marine animals – and those who work with animals in the sea, says Sørensen.
She highlights the following points to questions about how climate change could impact the aquaculture industry in the future – an industry which had a turnover of 44.3 billion kroner whole in 2014:
1. More lus
The temperature rise causes the wildlife develops faster. Not only the fish will grow faster – also parasites like lice will evolve with increased speed, according to Sorensen.
Today it is used for various types of drugs in the fight against lice, which each year cost the industry a lot of money. Nofima estimates that luseproblematikken cost industry 3-4000000000 in 2014. In addition, costs resulting from lost growth and poorer feed conversion.
– Those who engaged in farming struggling today with major challenges in lusesida and we know that the growth of lice is very temperature dependent. 20-30 years, we will hopefully come up with some new funds into the fight, but I think we will never be able to get rid of the problem completely, says Sørensen.
2. Increased use of chemicals
The sale of assets against lice in Norwegian aquaculture increased in 2014, reflecting the problem of resistance in sea lice. FHI describes consumption of salmon lice agents remained high since 2009.
The drugs can have fatal consequences for life around fish farms, which a research has shown.
– We hope as delousing in future does not involve the use of more or new chemicals. This is a great burden for people working in the industry who worry about environmental consequences, not to mention those who will manage these funds.
3. More disease
Higher temperatures can introduce diseases that have previously not been a problem in this country. It can happen while changes in salinity, in that more freshwater flows into the sea, making fish more susceptible to disease through stress.
– The industry is struggling now with a parasite called amøbesykdom. This is so far is a new disease in Norway, but that has long been known from other parts of the world, says the professor.
4. More extreme places new demands on plants
In the future expected increase in extreme weather. Under extreme weather “Nina” escaped more than 150,000 salmon and rainbow trout. Scientific Advisory Committee for Atlantic Salmon Management has previously considered escaped farmed salmon to be one of the most serious non-stabilized impact factors on wild salmon.
– More storms may require new technology, and that technology must be designed to To withstand more storms to prevent escapes.
Sorensen adds that this is an area that the industry is actively working today, so that in the future have structures that can withstand more than today.
– I also believe that in forward time the plants will be located in other areas, and not so close to the shore as today.
– Important food resource
The professor is also clear that we need aquaculture in forward time, as a result of a growing world population and corresponding increased need for food.
– More and more food must be collected from the sea. I hope the industry continues to focus on research and innovation, such as addressing the challenges ahead. And I think it will do, says Sørensen.
To see the aquaculture industry even at forward time
Chief Information Officer Øyvind André Haram in Seafood Norway. Photo: Siv Dolmen / FHL
Chief Information Officer Øyvind André Haram in Seafood Norway say they have not yet noticed huge climate change.
– It is said that the weather gets hotter, but what we have seen and measurements we have made in recent years, shows that local variations are greater in a year than the long term, he said.
He thinks while warmer temperatures can cause algal blooms.
– It can also provide opportunities to serve other type of species, but also challenges for the we doing today. Salmon like for example, temperatures above 18 degrees.
– Do you fear more problems with sea lice as a result of higher temperatures?
– There is certainly something you’re watching, but it is not certain that the relationships are as clear as you think. In the fall, for example, sea temperatures in northern Norway a little higher than the average in the two preceding years, while lice levels are half of what they were for two to three years ago. There is no telling what the real consequences are.
– Not excessively
He believes that one must listen to the climatologists say and rely on it.
– We have in many ways taken account of challenges in terms of the technical part. Where we have already acted us demands that are on the table now. They take into account changes, for example through NYTEK scheme, which involves the need to have equipment that allows for 50-årsstormer.
Selda puts things in perspective
No comments:
Post a Comment