Climate change is causing fish to move to cooler water. But what if their escape route is blocked?

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 22:53:02 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/climate-change-is-causing-fish-to-move-to-cooler-water-but-what-if-their-escape-route-is-blocked-284291>

"Around the world, ocean warming is causing fish to move polewards in search of
cooler water.

But what if you’re a tiny prawn, barramundi or rare sawfish in a northern
Australian gulf and your exit southwards is blocked by land? To date, there’s
been a global gap in understanding how shallow tropical gulfs and bays are
responding to climate change.

These marine environments are vital for nature, fisheries and coastal
communities. However, their conditions are becoming more extreme and variable
due to cumulative climate change. Species are riding an environmental roller
coaster, with the rapid changes hindering their recovery.

Some of the world’s most populous countries – and unique species – are in the
tropics. Lessons from remote northern Australia can prove insightful.

Our new research focuses on these unique Australian ecosystems and highlights
their importance and complexity. It takes into account land barriers, the
monsoonal climate, influence of cyclones and massive variability in sea
levels."

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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