Epure Climate disruption, a source of pollution in the fisheries sector

Fisheries products play a key role in human nutrition. The majority of catches are made in either continental shelf or ‘upwelling’ zones – where nutrient-rich water rises up from the depths. These zones are especially rich in fish stocks but face the combined threats of land-sourced pollution and global climate change.

Recent studies have documented contaminant spills caused by climate change: for example when glaciers melt and release mercury. Similar phenomena have been observed with other heavy metals. This marine pollution associated with trace metals, and spread by the upwelling phenomenon itself, increases the risk that the fisheries sector spreads such contamination to humans.

The EPURE project aims to study these climate change events, focusing in particular on the Moroccan upwelling zone where there is evidence that the fisheries sector may bring these micro-contaminants onshore.