Patagonian droughts linked to harmful algal blooms

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Patagonia's fjords are home to spectacular biodiversity, with many endemic and endangered aquatic species. They are also an environment suitable for thriving fisheries that support food security and local economies, being the second largest producer of farmed salmon after Norway. However, climate change is impacting the ecosystem, in particular the increasing occurrence of droughts.

New research, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, has investigated the impact of droughts in the Reloncaví Fjord, Northern Chilean Patagonia.

Associate Professor Lauren Ross and Ph.D. researcher Elías Pinilla, of the University of Maine, used modeling to analyze the impacts of river discharges, tides and wind when comparing a normal year (2018) with an extreme drought year (2016). During the latter, 40,000 tons of salmon died as a result, leading to $800 million in economic losses.

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