Sea surface temp hits record high

MYSTIC, Conn. (WTNH) -- A new report out by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows some of the warmest temperatures ever recorded.

That means you may be seeing more Groupers and other warm water fish in Long Island Sound. The sea surface temperature hit a record high of 51 degrees: the average is lower than 48 degrees.

"Three degrees to us, we can hardly tell when we're walking around," said Cris Sodergren, Mystic Aquarium, "but long term, especially when you're talking about the ocean, that's a huge difference and it affects spawning times, how well they spawn."

Sodergren an Aquarist at Mystic Aquarium says the bottom temperatures are also at a record high.

"We saw algal blooms starting very strong in February where they should be starting more in March," Sodergren said.

Long Island Sound is part of the Northeast US Continental Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem, which is seeing movement of marine life north.

"We're also seeing a lot of fish that won't even be here," Sodergren said. "You know so we're seeing southern species moving in. The northern species moving further north."

Lobsters may be also be moving to colder waters. Further affecting an already struggling lobster industry in Connecticut.

The warm temperatures also cause more algae bloom. At the Mystic Aquarium they add some algae to the tanks so they can feed some of the marine life. In real life however, when the algae dies it actually depletes so much oxygen that it may kill some of the marine life it's feeding.

The reason for the rise is believed to be due in part to global warming; the warmer waters come after a warmer than usual winter and spring.

"Do folks like you hope we have a very cold winter," asked News 8's Tina Detelj.

"I do. I do," said Sodergren. "It will certainly set things back a little bit, make next year hopefully a little bit more normal."

That's a professional and personal preference.