The unsustainability of the Omega-3 supply from seafood in the Mediterranean under global change

This study, for the first time, examines the evolution of Omega-3 supply landed by local fisheries over time in the Mediterranean Sea, while considering trade-offs between species with varying temperature preferences. The province of Girona (northwestern Mediterranean, Spain) is used as our case study. Our results show that, between 2000 and 2023, there was a strong declining trend in the Omega-3 supplied by temperate and cold-water species (which have been negatively affected by overexploitation and climate change), and that this has not been compensated by the increase in the Omega-3 supplied by warm-water species (which have benefited from climate change). Considering the poor status of the Mediterranean stocks and the negative impacts of sea warming on Omega-3 production, our study provides empirical evidence that the self-sufficiency of Omega-3 supplied by seafood for future generations is far from assured.