**Sea Surface Temperature Rise and Impacts on Fisheries - May 2007**.

**Sea Surface Temperature Rise and Impacts on Fisheries - May 2007**.

Sea surface temperatures around Japan have risen markedly over the past 100 years, with particularly large effects seen during the winter months. Along the coast of Wakayama Prefecture, the catch of Mackerel has decreased and the catch of Gomackerel has increased. This has had an economic impact on fishermen. In Aomori Prefecture, rising sea water temperatures have narrowed the growing range of kelp, and in the Tsugaru Straits, cold current seaweed has decreased and warm current seaweed has increased, causing changes in the entire ecosystem. In addition, in the Seto Inland Sea, the cultivation of nori seaweed has been adversely affected, and the occurrence of red tides is increasing. These changes are having a serious impact on Japan's fisheries and food self-sufficiency, further increasing the importance of global warming countermeasures.