An informative handbook on the effects of climate change on Scottish fisheries was my latest find, published in August 2006, it discusses the broader issues of climate change for fishermen, not scientists.

Focused on the North Sea and the cod fishery, it still broaches a variety of lesser known effects of climate change on the ocean and neighboring land masses. It’s a mighty good primer if you plan on being assaulted by the topic at your next cocktail party.

The study notes that the North Sea has warmed about half a degree over the last 100 years, and is projected to warm nearly that much every decade thereafter, what’s new is everything else they’ve noticed;

• On average it’s 2 MPH windier in Scotland (and surrounding ocean)
• The waves are 6″ taller
• 20% more rainy days
• 14% more sunshine in Autumn
• 2 degrees warmer in air temperatures
• Longer growing season, both on land and in the ocean
• Migratory/seasonal species (mostly plankton and algae) are showing earlier than normal
• Possible migration of some fish northward toward colder water

It’s a scientific study written for the angling crowd, and is an interesting read. Too often we assume “stuff is getting warmer” – when many of these side issues can be as beneficial or devastating as the original problem.

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