A detailed study of how climate change will affect fish stocks in Canada and the United States concludes dozens of species are moving hundreds of kilometres away from their normal range.

The research, published this week, says some of the biggest effects will be felt along the coast of British Columbia.

Author James Morley of Rutgers University in New Jersey says that will likely cause problems for governments as they try to rebalance shares of the catch.

Morley looked at 686 marine species in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

He found that even if climate change is kept under two degrees, species off Canada’s West Coast will move by an average of more than 200 kilometres.