Adaptation to Climate Change: A Fishery Technology Perspective

Abstract

Climate change is predicted to have direct and indirect impacts on capture and culture fisheries, for fishers, coastal communities and fisheries-dependent economies. Capture fisheries by fishing vessels, is mostly driven by fossil fuels that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and forms one the largest contributor from the fisheries sector. Transportation of catches, from the landing centers using different modes of transport is another source of emissions which contribute significantly to the emissions. Fisheries may be impacted in different ways, which include changes in the distribution of species due to latitudinal shifts or changes in the productivity of the system through processes that are repercussions due to climate-induced changes. A diverse range of direct and indirect climate affects, including displacement and migration of coastal communities; impacts on infrastructure for fishing; and changes in the frequency, intensity and distribution of extreme events are predicted. The poorer and less empowered countries and individuals are more vulnerable to climate impacts, and the vulnerability of fisheries is likely to be higher in circumstances of overcapacity and over exploitation.

The interactions related to climate change is often complex, which includes interactions between social, ecological and economic systems, and this makes future predictions very difficult, however steps are required to develop models that could help the policy makers to frame adaptation strategies. Fisheries governance should aim towards equitable and sustainable options and should be flexible enough to account for inherent uncertainties in the fisheries sector. However, adaptation may be costly, so mitigation of emissions and other factors that contribute significantly to climate related issues should be the main recourse.