Updates
Later, 9:39 pm: this might help explain what is going on.
Later, 6:30 pm: a huge "thank you" to Don for sending me
an article addressing this issue.
The Argo data shows that the oceans have been in a slight cooling trend
since at least late-2004, and possibly as far back as mid-2003 when the
Argo network.
Later, 5:02 pm: this article really bothers me -- that the ocean around Scotland has gotten so cold, it has affected the lobsters.
I think all would agree that one
cold atmospheric/
land-based winter could not have such an effect on
the bottom of the ocean, even if relatively close to shore. [North Dakotans are well aware of the relative constant temperature in their basements independent of the hot summers and extremely cold winters.] So, either the lobstermen are wrong, or ocean cooling has gone on longer than most people are aware. Assuming that most folks would deny the ocean has been cooling, then the only option is to suggest the lobstermen are wrong.
Assuming the lobstermen are wrong, then there needs to be another reason for the decreasing lobster. The problem I have is that the lobstermen have been doing this for generations, and I am very, very hesitant to say the lobstermen are wrong. Like farmers in North Dakota, they have a very, very intimate relationship with the biome in which they work, live, and breathe 24/7, and if the lobstermen say the ocean is colder, I have to believe them. This will be an interesting story to follow. My hunch is that no dollars will be available for research because it would not be politically correct to research a cooling ocean. But my eyes and ears will be attuned to any trivia emanating from marine biologists about a possibly cooling ocean.
Original Post
The ultra-conservative, right-wing, global-warming, British tabloid,
the BBC, is reporting:
Prolonged cold weather has caused a shortage of Scottish lobster supplies, according to an industry body.
The Scottish Creel Fishermen's Federation said landings had fallen by as much as 90% off the east coast of Scotland, forcing a sharp rise in wholesale prices.
Langoustine catches were also reported to be as much as 70% down in the Clyde fisheries area.
The federation said cold weather had forced lobsters further out to sea.
It added that poor weather conditions off the east coast, from Peterhead to Eyemouth, had damaged creels, forcing fishermen to spend more time onshore repairing their equipment.
Federation chairman Alistair Sinclair told the BBC Scotland news website: "Lobster is as rare as hens' teeth at the moment.
I assume we will soon be hearing stories about how global warming is causing all this cold weather we've been having.
[For newbies: that was "tongue-in-cheek" above. The BBC is British but that's about the only accurate adjective from the opening sentence.]
Seriously, the bottom of the ocean where the lobsters live does not change temperature overnight. If the ocean biome where the lobsters roam has become this cold, this is very, very interesting. This is not a local nor a recent event. It will be interesting to hear how the US east coast lobster industry is faring.