The Gulf of Maine is one of the fastest warming bodies of water on the planet, and the local lumpfish population do not seem to like the warmer temperatures most likely caused by climate change. It seems the species enjoys the cold New England weather more than the people do.
Lumpfish are beloved by anyone who has had an interaction with one, according to Elizabeth Fairchild, a University of New Hampshire researcher in an interview with NHPR. They’re personable and curious, and they often swim toward people thinking they will be fed something.
I can’t imagine how much these fish have been fed by those who love its cute look. Just looking at a picture of one makes me want to pet it.
Their diet consists of invertebrates, such as crustaceans and jellyfish, and smaller fish. They can grow up to 20-24 inches, depending on gender, which is the typical width of a doorway.
Because of their cuteness, they have not been studied much, nor are they harvested and eaten in New England, despite being eaten in other parts of the world. Fairchild has focused on studying lumpfish because of their special quality, that is that they are a “cleaner fish.”
No, they are not less messy than other fish, they just eat parasites that cling to other fish, earning that name. I guess they aren’t all looks. This quality has been used in salmon farming in other parts of the world, letting the lumpfish feast to prevent the health problems that these parasites can provide. This is a fresher and safer way to get rid of the parasites in comparison to thermal baths of harsh chemicals.
Fairchild’s goals of her studies of lumpfish are to figure out if they can be raised in an aquaculture setting to support sustainable fisheries, but since they are not fished commercially, it is hard to find where they are located in the wild U.S. waters. Despite their door-sized figures, they have been hard to locate.
Fairchild is also focusing on understanding where they are, and seeing how their patterns have changed because of climate change. According to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), the Gulf experienced its 5th warmest year on record in 2023, with the sea surface temperature (SST) being 1.9℉ more than the annual average.
This disturbs the region’s seafood supply chain, such as cod and lobster, as well as raises the sea to a concerning level. If New England needs anything, it needs its lobster. The Gulf itself produced 108 million pounds of lobster in 2021, according to Seacoastonline.
Fairchild’s team, known as Team LuMP, after analyzing state and federal scientific surveys and fishermen who caught lumpfish during their usual fishing operations, realized that from the 12,000 fish that were caught the population of lumpfish shifted northeastward, into deeper and colder waters.
It is good that lumpfish are finding their way into the research spotlight. Although they haven’t been researched because of their lack of commercial use, I think it’s still good that some researchers have taken interest in the species. It’s good to know as much as you can about all species, that way we have a better understanding of what’s going on in our ecosystems and the effects of climate change.
They also found that the population of lumpfish in New England has increased since 1980. These changes in population are likely related to climate change because of the fact that lumpfish like to live in colder waters, and are escaping the rising heat of the Gulf.
To try and provide online resources for people to learn more about lumpfish and their movement, Team LuMP created an interactive map with the help of Shane Bradt and the University of New Hampshire’s cooperative extension.
It makes the information much more accessible from multiple sources for those who need it, and easier to analyze. It’s also fun to play with and learn more about the species.
With this new map, the Seacoast Science Center has a new exhibit on lumpfish with the mission of letting people learn more about lumpfish and grow to love their curious personalities.
Hayley Doda can be contacted at
hayley@kscequinox.com
