Science / Animals

Warming ocean will affect marine mammals and their food sources

12:44 pm on 16 September 2022

Listen

Some large migratory whales might stop passing through New Zealand's warming coastal waters, because there'll be less food - like phytoplankton - available.

But tropical and subtropical marine mammals might take their place -- increasing competition for the dwindling food supplies.

Marine scientist Jim Roberts from Anemone consultants co-authored a report for the Department of Conservation on how climate change might affect our marine mammals.

Dr Roberts spoke to Māni Dunlop about what the future might hold.