Trigger Fish - Mediterranean Species - Confirmed Off Isle Of Mull, Scotland's Inner Hebrides

CONSERVATIONISTS fear a rare sighting off the Isle of Mull of a fish commonly found in the Mediterranean is an indicator of climate change affecting Scottish waters.

The recording of a trigger fish near the west coast island has sparked fears the non-native species is spreading into northern coastal areas. The sighting was thanks to new mobile apps which are aimed at combating invasive species in Scotland.

Scottish Natural Heritage is delighted the apps are allowing people to quickly and easily record non-native species across the country, which it claims is costing the Scottish economy £246million a year.

Stan Whitaker, SNH’s invasive non-native species expert, said many are a threat to native creatures and the local biodiversity, as well as being a help in discovering more about the effects of climate change. He added: “The trigger fish are common in the Mediterranean, and breed in warmer climates. The average water temperature is showing an increasing trend year on year, which means we were naturally seeing southern species moving north.”

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http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/mull-rare-fish-sighting-a-sign-of-climate-change-1-3185725