Chapter 8 - Effects of climate change on food production (fishing)

Abstract

Climate change is already influencing life in the ocean and will continue to do so into the future with consequences for fisheries and seafood production. Observed physical and chemical climate-change effects alter basic biological processes, such as the survival, growth, and reproduction of marine organisms, the distribution and abundance of target species, the composition and dynamics of marine food webs, and the productivity of ocean ecosystems. Many marine species are moving their range toward the poles, into deeper or more offshore waters to remain at their preferred temperature, while some tropical and polar specialists may disappear. These fundamental changes in species distribution and performance will alter the structure and functioning of food webs and ecosystems. Responding to these changes, marine fisheries need to adapt in terms of where they fish, which species they target, and what catch rate, size, nutritious and monetary value the changing target species have. Available climate-change projections suggest that global fish production and catches are expected to decline, although with considerable regional variation ranging from decreases at lower to increases at higher latitudes. In addition to climate change, a large degree of future trajectories in fisheries production will depend on the development of fisheries operations and other human activities. A reduction in overall fishing pressure, more sustainable fisheries practices, climate-adapted management, and strengthened ocean governance could help maintain marine fisheries and seafood production into the future, and the conservation of ocean ecosystems and marine biodiversity protection could help mitigate some climate and other global change effects.