57 New Fish Species Found in Greenland
There several different fish swim around in the waters around Greenland, than researchers previously assumed. The whole 57 species have come to in a recount.
Berlingske Tidende, 9 marts 2010 [here]
Note: Google translation from Danish
Increased fishing in deep water and rising sea temperatures are probably the cause of that Greenland can welcome a new strip of fish.
Since the last census in 1992 are all 57 species appeared. It shows a new survey carried out by fish curator Peter Rask Møller of the Zoological Museum in Copenhagen, in cooperation with Danish and Greenlandic scientists.
Thus, there is now a total of 269 known species in Greenland waters.
“We are cautious to announce that many new species due to climate change, but there are about five new species, which appear likely to have come because of increased temperatures. These are the salmon herring, whiting, Rosefishes, monkfish and Snipe - all species which also occur in Danish waters,” said Peter Rask Moller said in a statement.
The 57 new species of Greenland are “new” in different ways. The 47 species are known species worldwide, but is new in Greenland waters. In contrast, 10 species completely new and not previously described by science.
Only five of the species is Arctic - meaning that they occur only in the cold water north of the submarine elevation move that runs between Canada and Greenland, and Greenland and Iceland. The rest are species that thrive in slightly warmer water.
The vast majority of new species deep-sea living from about 400 meters down. They apply, for example, two new shark species Iceland catshark and Portuguese dogfish. The reason why these species appearing now, may be due to increased deep-sea fishing by both research vessels and commercial fishermen.
Peter Rask Møller dare not predict whether the new species will take hold and eventually become numerous enough that they can be fished.