AUROA: The “fish” in New Zealand fish and chips could be threatened by global warming.
Research out of the United Kingdom found rising ocean temperatures in the North Sea would push northern favourites such as haddock and chips off the fish and chips menu in the next 50 years.
Fish and chips could be replaced by sardines or squid as people looked toward the warmer southern Europe for culinary inspiration, the research found.
The news came a week after major mussel exporter Sanford said it was likely to close its Christchurch processing plant, partly because unfavourable weather was warming the ocean and cutting mussel yield.
Speaking about the mussel yield, NIWA principal scientist for climate Brett Mullan said New Zealand followed the world-wide pattern of land warming first, followed by the sea.
“New Zealand has warmed quite a bit as well.
“The oceans are warming and they are storing a lot of heat.”
The Southern Ocean had more heat in it than any other, but it was so big that it could store more warmth than most, Mullan said.
