January 25, 2024 — Climate change has caused ocean temperatures to steadily rise, which, experts warned senators Wednesday, could significantly harm the fishing industry.
Andrea Dutton, a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, said burning fossil fuels primarily drives climate change, which could cause widespread economic and environmental problems.
Fossil fuels generate high levels of carbon dioxide, which, in oceans, could cause heat waves and create acidic seawater that could harm anything living in the ecosystem.
Rashid Sumaila, a University Killam professor and research chair at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, said fisheries catch about 120 million tons of fish annually, generating about $240 billion in worldwide revenue.