The Link Between Disease and Climate Change and the Risks to Ocean and Human Health

Marine diseases affecting both ocean life and human health are rising with global temperatures. A warmer ocean can drive marine disease proliferation through range expansion of pathogens and decreased host health. Consequences of marine disease proliferation include increased incidence of seafood-borne illness in humans and the destabilization of economically important aquaculture species. This session highlights an often overlooked impact of climate change on global oceans—diseases.