Climate Change And Inland Fisheries – An Overview

Abstract

Fisheries are affected by climate change in many ways; aquatic ecosystems are being affected by changes in water temperature, water flow, and fish habitat loss. These effects vary in the context of each fishery. Climate change is modifying fish distributions and the productivity of freshwater species. Climate change is expected to lead to significant changes in the availability and trade of fish products. The geopolitical and economic consequences will be significant, especially for the countries most dependent on the sector. The biggest decreases in maximum catch potential can be expected in the tropics, mostly in the South Pacific regions. The impacts of climate change on fresh water systems has impacts on the sustainability of fisheries, on the livelihoods of the communities that depend on fisheries, and on the ability of the fresh water to capture and store carbon. The effect of sea level rise means that coastal fishing communities are significantly impacted by climate change, while changing rainfall patterns and water use impact on inland freshwater fisheries. Increased risks of floods, diseases, parasites and harmful algal blooms are climate change impacts on fisheries which can lead to losses of production and infrastructure. With this scenario, in the present review we aimed to describe and delineate on the potential impacts of climate change on Inland fisheries and its economic implications.