Samenvatting

Climate change, driven by anthropogenic global warming, is having profound effects on marine ecosystems. The western Dutch Wadden Sea is particularly vulnerable to these changes due to its shallow and dynamic characteristics. Rising water temperatures and thermal fluctuations are known to influence the biology, physiology, and distribution of marine fish species. One particular species is the garfish (Belone belone), a seasonal marine visitor that utilises the Wadden Sea as a spawning ground. While the general biology of the garfish is well described, there remains limited knowledge regarding the influence of environmental factors, particularly water temperature, on its seasonal occurrence.