Files
Details
Title
Impacts on Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture
Author(s)
Lewis, Rob
Subject(s)
Issue Date
Sep 03 2008
Publication Type
Conference Paper/ Presentation
DOI and Other Identifiers
10.22004/ag.econ.124525
Record Identifier
https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/124525
PURL Identifier
http://purl.umn.edu/124525
Language
English
Total Pages
7
Note
Over the last two hundred years the impact of
industrial-scale fishing on fish stocks and their
sustainability has been recognised and sought to
be addressed or managed. This impact has
resulted in some stocks collapsing, many being
exploited at maximum or non–sustainable levels,
with a subsequent increased focus on aquaculture
as a source of fish protein to meet the demands of
growing populations and economies.
It is now recognised that these enterprises are
also subject to the additional influences of climate
change. Due to the coastal and high seas nature
of our fisheries, the complexity and diversity of
riparian, coastal and oceanic systems, habitats
and populations, the perceived impacts from
climate change on fisheries and aquaculture are
less defined than in other industrial and
community areas.
Climate change induced impacts are anticipated
to deliver both adverse and in some cases
positive effects on fisheries and aquaculture.
Potential adverse impacts include detrimental
changes in oceanic physio-chemical
characteristics (e.g. O2, temperature, salinity, total
inorganic carbon content and acidification) and
key oceanic circulation systems, declines in
production potential of traditional species,
abundance changes and altered
trophic/ecosystem relationships, disturbance of
reproductive patterns and migratory routes,
increased vulnerability to diseases and pests,
increased extreme weather events (e.g. storm
surges and cyclones) and the provision of a
competitive advantage for lower-valued and
invasive species. Adverse impacts also include
decreased community (industrial and artisan)
economic benefit, the additional cost of relocation
and relocation of production system and coastal
infrastructure, and the recognised vulnerability of
coastal and low-lying island nations to rising sea
levels.
Positive impacts include the potential for
increased coastal nutrients and productivity from
more intense upwelling systems, increased
growth rates and extended growing seasons,
increased competitiveness of high-valued less
abundant and new profitable species, and climate
change driven improvements in production
systems, infrastructure and resource management
strategies.
The critical challenge for the world’s fisheries and
aquaculture is to ensure they effectively contribute
to the global response to address the causes of
climate change, whilst embracing and adapting to
opportunities that future change delivers.