Scientists at the University of Glasgow have found that climate change is causing most fish populations to migrate to the north and south poles, to colder waters. The results of the study were published in the journal Global Change Biology.

The researchers analyzed data from 115 species across all major ocean regions and studied 595 different responses of fish populations to rising sea temperatures. It turned out that species living in areas that warm faster show faster changes in their geographical distribution.

Moving to colder places may be the best short-term survival strategy, scientists say. At the same time, commercially exploited fish species move more slowly, which is influenced by additional factors such as fishing. In addition, moving fish can become invasive species, disrupting marine ecosystems in new locations.

It is known that water temperature affects the metabolism, growth and reproduction of fish. In addition, marine species often have a very narrow range of optimal temperatures for life, so the warming of the sea due to global warming can lead to their death. Scientists have calculated that climate change is causing changes in marine ecosystems seven times faster than on land.