Rising temperatures in the Mediterranean Sea are reportedly attracting new fish species like never before. Sea temperatures in the region have risen 5°C above what’s generally considered normal for this time of the year. The current 27°C waters are now drawing species like barracuda and triggerfish, more commonly found in Egypt’s Red Sea and elsewhere.
A hungry barracuda, although this one was photographed 6,500 miles away from the Mediterranean Sea in Caye Caulker, Belize.
Unfortunately, these new visitors aren’t a good sign. In fact, their arrival signals a potentially devastating effect on the marine ecosystem in the Mediterranean Sea. Experts fear the appearance of such species could massively threaten native marine life.
“These species could be insatiable herbivores, or carnivores too, which will devour a lot of fish,” Sandrine Ruitton, a teacher and researcher at the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, tells Euronews.
The outcome? Species capable of migrating will be likely to move to cooler habitats – something which in itself can have a negative impact on other marine ecosystems. At the same time, those that can’t migrate will be left behind and may struggle to survive.
