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Fish and climate change

The increase in the scaldfish and lesser weever fish along the Dutch coast is possibly a result of the warmer climate in the Netherlands.

Trends in the scaldfish


The scaldfish is found from the Mediterranean up to the south of Norway. Though scarce in Dutch coastal waters, catches of this species have increased considerably in the last 10 years. This could be a result of the warmer climate.

The scaldfish is a slow-growing flatfish. A fish 14 cm long could be 13 years old. The diet of this species consists primarily of crustaceans and worms, and also small fish such as black goby.

Trends in the lesser weever fish


Catches of the lesser weever fish in Dutch coastal waters have also increased considerably in the last 10 years. This species is found from the Mediterranean as far as the centre of Danish waters. Its increase could also be the result of a warmer climate.

The lesser weever fish is mostly found on sandy seabeds. Individual fish grow to about 18 cm long by their sixth year. The lesser weever fish buries itself in the sandy seabed, so that only its eyes protrude above the surface. Its diet consists mainly of black goby.

Technical note


When surveys of fish stocks are done from research vessels, using fine-meshed nets so that the increase in the population of juvenile commercial fish species can be studied, non-commercial fish species such as the scaldfish and lesser weever fish are also netted. The graph shows stocks in September/October, for both species.

References


  • Heessen, H.J.L., H.C. Welleman, N. Daan, A.C. Smaal en G.J. Piet (2001). Bijdrage RIVO aan Natuurcompendium 2001. Nederlands Instituut voor Visserijonderzoek RIVO. Intern rapport C058/01. IJmuiden.
  • Knijn, R.J., T.W. Boon, H.J.L. Heessen en J.R.G. Hislop (1993). Atlas of North Sea Fishes. ICES Cooperative Research Report No. 194, 268 pp.
This page was last changed on 21 April 2004  (version 01).