The role of predator removal by fishing on ocean carbon dynamics

Abstract

The ocean is a net sequester of carbon dioxide, predominantly through low biomass, high productivity phytoplankton photosynthesis. Selective removal of predatory fish through extractive fishing alters the community structure of the ocean, with an increased biomass of more productive, low trophic level fish and higher overall respiration rates, despite possible decreases in total fish biomass. High pressure fishing on predators may result in as much as a 19% increase in respiration from fish communities and could prove highly significant in global carbon budgets.