Southern heatwave may harm marine life

IMAGE: GERARD O'BRIEN/ODT GRAPHICA marine heatwave is set to spice up southern holidays, but the "severe" sea surface temperatures might prove destructive to marine life. The marine heatwave is forecast to affect Otago Peninsula, the West Coast, Fiordland and Stewart Island this week. Coastal patches off the West Coast were forecast to reach 4.7 degC above average for this time of year tomorrow. But around Stewart Island and extending towards Otago Peninsula, a "severe" marine heatwave was expected on Thursday and Friday. "Last year, a similarly warm marine heatwave in Fiordland reached great depths and caused widespread bleaching of sea sponge."