Fisheries disrupt marine nutrient cycles through biomass extraction
González Ortiz, A.A.; Walsworth, T.E.; Hammill, E.; Palomares, M.L.D.; Pauly, D.; Atwood, T.B. (2025). Fisheries disrupt marine nutrient cycles through biomass extraction. Commun. Earth Environ. 6(1): 1-15. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02218-z
In: Communications Earth & Environment. Springer Nature: London. ISSN 2662-4435; e-ISSN 2662-4435, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- González Ortiz, A.A.
- Walsworth, T.E.
- Hammill, E.
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- Palomares, M.L.D.
- Pauly, D., more
- Atwood, T.B.
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| Abstract |
Fisheries’ effects on marine life have been widely acknowledged for decades, but only recently have we considered their impact on marine nutrient cycles. Through the removal of marine biomass, fisheries represent a unique and historically novel pathway for nutrients to be extracted from the sea. Here, we examined the magnitude of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus extraction by industrial fisheries through large spatiotemporal scales and broad ecological contexts. Between 1960 and 2018, industrial fisheries removed approximately 431 million tonnes of carbon, 110 million tonnes of nitrogen, and 23 million tonnes of phosphorus. Nutrient extractions occurred most intensely in highly productive regions within Exclusive Economic Zones. Additionally, >53% of all nutrient extractions occurred through the removal of mid-level trophic groups and pelagic species. Our findings indicate that fisheries can remove substantial amounts of nutrients each year and warrant further studies that consider the ecosystem-level impacts of nutrient reductions. |
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