"We depend on the oceans---for food, jobs, recreation and solace. Ocean currents circulate the energy and water that regulate the earth's climate and weather and thus affect many aspects of the human experience, whether we live on the nation's coasts or its heartland"(Pew).

Climate Change 

       Over the past century or so, the earth has seen a significant rise in average global temperatures. Studies show that average surface temperatures have been rising at a rate of approximately 0.1°C/decade, which is significant when compared to estimates of historical values (IPCC, 2001). Whether this is primarily a result of anthropogenic influences such as emission of greenhouse gases, or of natural repeating fluctuations in climate, global warming will have a profound effect upon the oceans and should therefore be of great concern to anyone in charge of global fisheries. It is also very likely that global warming will accelerate in the near future due to positive feedback mechanisms (IPCC, 2001). Climate change is somewhat difficult to monitor, and even more so to predict accurately. Despite this, research on current systems as well as research into past global warming events provides us with an idea of what might be expected in future years. By knowing the general trends of climate change, an understanding effect on fisheries can be extrapolated.

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