Dear B-A,
It will be interesting to see what changes in the pelagic species seen off our east coast, if this trend continues. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-17/climate-change-sees-tropical-fish-head-south/4203830?WT.svl=news0
A worrying trend.
Cheers,
Car Clifford
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Comments
3 responses to “Tropical fish off Tasmania – What effect on pelagic bird species?”
Hi Ian,
I have to disagree. The Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies at UTas has been doing a lot of research on this topic, and have demonstrated a number of biological and physical changes, including strengthening of the EAC and extending ranges of usually more Northerly fish and plankton. Prof. Gustaaf Hallegraeff has done extensive work documenting the increasing range of plankton blooms in Tasmania over recent years. IMAS have also demonstrated that the recent establishment of the invasive sea urchin (*Centrostephanus* rodgersii) is a consequence of rising temperatures (and over fishing of rock lobster) because in the past it would die over winter because the water was too cold, but in the last few decades temperatures have risen enough for it survive all year round. The news story is confusing in its discussion of Redmap. The CSIRO has produced a report which has no connection to RedMap, but is based on decades of scientific surveys. The ABC interviewed Dr. Gretta Pecl (who works for IMAS and runs Redmap) and her observations from Redmap are supported by the independent CSIRO observations. The anecdotal observations from farmers are not the same as the rigorous biological surveys carried out by IMAS and the CSIRO, which have come to the same conclusion on this issue.
Regards,
Jeremy O’Wheel
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Dear Carl
The reality of this is that most of these fish species have been known to occur here for a very long time.. But recently, a database mapping system (redmap) has been initiated by a group of (environmentalists?) to encourage everybody to report sightings, catches etc of fish. This encouragement has resulted in a huge increase of reported data, however most of the results are not camparable with any previous recording database/method/recording system and hence, the results are not comparable with an established benchmark.
It appears that new info is construed as evidence of changed environmental conditions without proper scientific evaluation. In reality, most of this new information has been known by local fishers but not officially recorded. Around the traps, there is a belief that there is a hidden agenda behind much of this, probably a push for research funding to support the interests of a minority group.
Ian May
St Helens, Tasmania
Carl Clifford wrote:
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Dear Carl
The reality of this is that most of these fish species have been known to occur here for a very long time.. But recently, a database mapping system (redmap) has been initiated by a group of (environmentalists?) to encourage everybody to report sightings, catches etc of fish. This encouragement has resulted in a huge increase of reported data, however most of the results are not camparable with any previous recording database/method/recording system and hence, the results are not comparable with an established benchmark.
It appears that new info is construed as evidence of changed environmental conditions without proper scientific evaluation. In reality, most of this new information has been known by local fishers but not officially recorded. Around the traps, there is a belief that there is a hidden agenda behind much of this, probably a push for research funding to support the interests of a minority group.
Ian May
St Helens, Tasmania
Carl Clifford wrote:
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