Fish populations in the Mediterranean Sea are suffering under increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves, triggering significant economic impacts. According to estimates by Confcooperative Fedagripesca, thermal stress causes a 30% decline in fish reproductive capacity, leading to fishing activity reductions of up to 40% in some areas.
Species most affected include swordfish, bluefin tuna, mahi-mahi, sardines, and amberjack. These fish, inhabiting the upper half of the water column or near the surface, are highly exposed and sensitive to temperature shifts, making them the first impacted by climate fluctuations.
Fedagripesca emphasizes that rising sea temperatures are destroying entire marine habitats, creating widespread disruption. “Temperature-sensitive fish like sardines and anchovies migrate north seeking cooler waters,” the association stated. “While herbivorous species increase due to algal proliferation, carnivorous fish such as sharks, groupers, and sea bream decline from prey scarcity and heat stress.”
Compounding the crisis is the rapid proliferation of invasive species in the Mediterranean. Fedagripesca warns that within just five years, alien species could comprise one-third of the basin’s marine life, a dramatic surge from the current level of approximately 6% (around 1,200 species).