US Fisheries Should Brace for Stiff Jolt From Climate Change -- Studies

"Climate change could threaten the distribution and prevalence of many key ocean species. New studies reveal that all aspects of a changing climate -- from ocean acidification in the Arctic to rising temperatures on the continental shelf in the Northeast -- could shake up the fishing industry both economically and ecologically in and around the United States.

'These new papers document trends that we should expect to see more of going forward because of the cascading effects of a changing climate,' said Douglas Rader, chief oceans scientist for the nonprofit advocacy group Environmental Defense Fund. 'A changing atmosphere and a changing ocean suggest that ocean ecosystems will shift and in some ways fundamentally and in the not-too-distant future.'

Compared to other proteins such as beef, seafood is not a huge part of American diets. In 2013, Americans consumed an average of 14.5 pounds of seafood per person."

Brittany Patterson and Manon Verchot report for ClimateWire June 17, 2015.