The migratory Arctic char

There has been a steady decline in migratory Arctic char stocks the last decades, but the peak is considered to have been in 2002 – 2007. Climate change has led to about 1.5° c changes in air temperature and 1.5 – 2.0°c changes in sea temperatures in the last 30 years. At the same time as Arctic char stocks are retreating, the brown trout population grows. 

Changes in average river temperatures are thought to affect spawning by migratory Arctic char, which is also dependent on light conditions. Are we possibly facing the fact that fewer individuals make their way to the sea in spring, facing all sorts of threats and annual recovery becomes poorer.  

Picture/Guðrún Jónsdóttir