Potential poleward distribution shift of dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) along the southern California Current System

The dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus, 1758) is an epipelagic top-predator that is globally distributed in tropical and subtropical waters. In the Eastern Tropical and Subtropical Pacific, this fish represents a target species for commercial and recreational fisheries. Climate change is affecting biodiversity, and a poleward expansion was suggested for dolphinfish due to its affinity for warm waters. Considering that hypothesis, the objective of this research is to model the historical distribution of dolphinfish within the northern limit of its distribution in the Eastern Tropical Pacific and to evaluate the potential distribution shift along the North American temperate coast due to environmental changes under climate change scenarios. According to the Ecological Niche Model, a poleward shift in dolphinfish distribution is expected during this century as a consequence of gradual northern displacement of the sea surface temperature isotherm along the North American coast.