by InTrieste
In a remarkable sign of the shifting dynamics in the world’s oceans, a large school of yellowmouth barracudas (Sphyraena viridensis) has been spotted off the coast of Miramare in Trieste. The sighting, which occurred in the protected waters of the Miramare Marine Reserve, marks one of the largest congregations of this species ever recorded in the region—an event that scientists believe is directly tied to the effects of climate change.
Announced on the Miramare Marine Protected Area’s social media platforms, the sighting involved approximately one hundred specimens of the yellowmouth barracuda, a species historically confined to warmer waters of the eastern Atlantic. A video capturing the rare phenomenon was filmed by Amanda Vertovese, a snorkeling guide and diving instructor for the reserve. The footage shows the predatory fish gliding through the crystal-clear waters, a stunning display of nature that underscores broader environmental concerns.
“The fact that the sea is becoming warmer due to the ongoing climate crisis is undeniable,” the Marine Protected Area said in a Facebook post. “Many marine species are suffering the consequences, while others, adapted to much warmer waters, are finding new opportunities—like the yellowmouth barracuda.”
Over the past several years, local scientists have noted the increasing presence of individual yellowmouth barracudas in the region, but never in numbers this high. The sudden appearance of such a large school is seen as further evidence of the changing climate’s profound impact on the marine ecosystems of the Adriatic Sea and the Gulf of Trieste.
This phenomenon, experts suggest, is part of a broader trend they are calling the “southernization” of the Adriatic—a shift in marine species distribution caused by rising sea temperatures. Species native to warmer waters have begun migrating northward, taking advantage of conditions that now resemble those of more tropical environments.
Despite the excitement surrounding the discovery, scientists are cautious. The spread of species like the yellowmouth barracuda is a visible reminder of the profound alterations climate change is causing in marine environments. While some species are thriving in their newly accessible habitats, others, unable to adapt to rapidly rising temperatures, are at risk of decline or extinction.
The yellowmouth barracuda, for example, now shares these waters with the European barracuda (Sphyraena sphyraena), a species distinguished by its dark vertical bands. Historically, the Mediterranean was not home to large populations of yellowmouth barracuda, but as their presence continues to grow, the marine food web could be altered in unforeseen ways.
