Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Deep water temperatures in fjords along BC’s the Central coast have increased 1.2–1.3°C over 70 years, a recent report shows.

“These are big changes for the ocean. They are changes that can shift shift ecosystems and impact species. Oolichan, for example, don’t like being in waters that are warmer than 8°C and in some of the inlets we don’t see waters that are colder than 8°C anymore,” said Jennifer Jackson of the Hakai Institute, lead author of a study of Rivers, Knight and Bute Inlets, as well as the Douglas Channel.

She added right now the big three climate change variables that scientists are watching are warming, the loss of oxygen and acidification. They are all interlinked. Warmer waters do not hold as much oxygen, which leads to more acidification.

“The loss of oxygen trend that we are seeing in the coastal waters is really large, it is about 20% in deep water over the past 70 years. It will often put these deep waters into a realm where there is not enough oxygen for most animals to survive. It can shrink their habitat,” explained Jackson. “In the 1950s, 60’s and 70’s there was always enough oxygen throughout Bute Inlet, or Knight Inlet or Rivers Inlet, but during the last ten years there are sometimes months at a time when there isn’t enough oxygen below, say 300 metres.”

Sea Stars, zooplankton, most fish species, prawns and crabs are among the species affected by this change.