Pelagic Fishes and Sharks
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: Summary: Pelagic fishes occupy the surface waters from the coast to the open ocean. There are approximately 260 pelagic species around Australia. While some of the most well known are the large offshore apex predators such as tunas, billfish and sharks, the mid-trophic level small pelagic species, such as sardines, anchovies, and squids, are critical to ecosystem function. Pelagic fishes of all sizes have high ecological, economic and social value. The observed impacts of climate change are restricted to changes in local abundance and distribution, particularly southward range extensions. Little is known regarding changes in phenology, physiology or community structure. In future, general ocean warming around Australia and in particular on the east coast, in combination with predicted strengthening of the East Australia Current, is likely to see the distribution of a range of pelagic species extend southwards from present limits. On the west coast, changes in the strength of the Leeuwin Current are likely to have major implications for the distribution and abundance of some species, including western Australian salmon and Australian herring in waters off South Australia. Changes in productivity, for example due to
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2186302309