roytsaplinjr's Flickr photostream/Creative Commons

Warming sea temperatures are driving Cape Cod’s namesake fish farther from Massachusetts shore as they seek colder waters farther out and deeper in the ocean, forcing fishermen to seek alternative catches.  Growing up just outside of Boston I enjoyed plenty of battered and fried cod, and it saddens me to think that future generations may not get to experience the same classic New England dish because of climate change and overfishing.

The federal study confirmed what fisherman have surely known for a while, and found that 24 of the 36 species, including cod, once found close to shore on a day boat, have been migrating 100 to 200 miles further out over the past few decades.  What’s shocking is that the water temperatures have only risen by less than half of a degree on average, yet has been enough to seriously disrupt the regions marine ecosystem. 

Of course it’s important that we diversify our palates to avoid depleting certain fish stocks, and there may be other factors at work in addition to climate change and overfishing, but the study shows how delicate the balance of nature can be.  Use the action link below to demand action at the U.N. Climate Summit this December and learn about sustainable fish choices from the Blue Ocean Institute.