Future fisheries under climate change: the missing role of zooplankton (2019-2022)

Fish are the main source of protein for 3 billion people, yet fish catches are declining. Current models of future fish biomass under climate change do not consider the complex role that zooplankton play in transferring energy from phytoplankton to fish. This research aims to make an innovative leap by developing the first global ecosystem model with a more realistic representation of zooplankton. By resolving this link between phytoplankton and fish, this project will vastly improve estimates of future global fisheries production and how it is likely to vary regionally. Such knowledge is vital for future food security in Australia and globally, and also to understand the role of zooplankton in carbon export in the ocean.