Warming Waters: What a U.S. Study Could Reveal About UK Coarse Fish Populations

A study conducted in the United States has outlined the implications of global warming on both cold and warm water fish populations.

The research analysed 521 freshwater fish populations across 197 lakes in Minnesota and Wisconsin between 1980 and 2021. Analysing the impact of warming water temperatures, the paper showed that fishing had a far larger impact on fish populations than warming across 92% of species.

Interestingly, it also found that warm water species benefited from increasing temperatures compared to cold water fish, and that proper fishery management can help mitigate the impact of warming on fish populations.

While this study is US-focused, it has implications for the UK coarse fishing scene. Firstly, species such as carp and silver fish that are less sensitive to temperature changes may benefit from warming, leading to greater growth and reproduction. At the same time, coarse fish such as Pike and Barbel may be more susceptible to warming, so care must be taken as to when and where to fish them.

Thirdly, while coarse fish are not eaten in the UK, the role of fisheries in maintaining population levels and monitoring oxygen and water temperature is crucial to ensure healthy fish stocks as water temperatures rise.

To read this study in more detail, visit Science Advances for the full publication.