FAO.org

Climate change creates multiple negative impacts on fisheries and aquaculture. Warming conditions of the aquatic environment will result in physical and chemical changes. These external changes, particularly in temperature and oxygen availability, have major impacts both on the habitats that fish depend on and directly on cold-blooded aquatic creatures.

Extreme weather events can also cause major damage to fisheries and aquaculture environments. Heavy winds, storms and hurricanes can disrupt the integrity of ecosystems, such as coral reefs and mangrove swamps and reduce the shelter they provide for the biodiversity that lives there. Storm surges, waves and strong winds can destroy aquaculture systems, such as cages and longlines and wash out fish stocks held in ponds.

Fish continues to be one of the most-traded food commodities worldwide with more than half of fish exports by value originating in developing countries. Considering the heavy impacts of climate change, proper management of fisheries and adaptation measures to prevent the damage will be essential to allow people to continue to build resilient livelihoods in the fisheries sector.