Warming Seas Bring Shiretoko Less Drift Ice And New Fish Species

The warming seas are receiving new visitors such as the massive ocean sunfish, normally found in more temperate waters, shot on November 17,2015 in Rausu shiretoko Hokkaido prefecture , Japan. In recent years, the species became a familiar sight for fishermen in waters off Rausu on the southeastern coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula, which protrudes from the northeastern tip of Hokkaido. Not only is Shiretoko designated a World Heritage site, but it is also home to one of the nation’s most abundant fishing grounds and is the southernmost point in the Northern Hemisphere with drift ice-covered waters. Because of this, the local ecosystem is said to be highly sensitive to climate change.