Foreword

Abstract

There is no longer any doubt (IPCC, “Summary for Policymakers”, Cambridge University, in press) that human activities, particularly the extraction and use of fossil fuel resources, have already changed our climate. Unless we collectively change our patterns of energy use, climate change will accelerate and place all nature and humanity in harm's way. This special issue on climate change and fisheries across India is a timely contribution to the array of studies revealing the risks climate change poses for the vast array of ecosystem services and products essential to the continued health and prosperity of Earth's human population.India is a large country (3.287 m km²) with a large population (1.39 billion as of 2021). India's freshwater fisheries and aquaculture account for much of the food protein for its population: 68% in 2013. (Barik, 2017). India, like all regions of the world, already faces multiple stressors arising from human activities which often strain the hydrological systems (rivers, lakes and ponds, wetlands, and coastal areas) upon which ecosystems and, therefore, humans are highly dependent. These impacts may be increased by the joint effects of population size, per capita consumption, and the technological level of activities, all of which are rising as the economy of India rapidly develops. While efforts to limit climate change and mitigate the emerging impacts expand, it is important to increase knowledge of the potential consequences to all ecosystems, especially those essential to human well-being.This special issue presents a collection of nine papers which collectively provide a timely overview of the scope of inland fisheries across India and the challenges climate variability and baseline shifts pose as climate change accelerates. Many papers are focused on floodplain wetlands where much of the intensive aquaculture providing fish protein occurs. Every stage in the life cycle of the many species exploited to produce food has specific climate-related requirements. In temperate regions, the primary focus of climate impact assessment is often temperature. In tropical regions such as India precipitation conditions are often of greater importance. Climate change is altering the pattern and intensity of the annual monsoon season causing more severe flooding which can disrupt aquaculture operations. Increased frequency of droughts in other seasons can bring further disruptions. Temperature increases can compound these impacts by creating timing mismatches.Among this set of papers, three focus on the Ganga basin, a region of primary cultural importance to India. Six papers focus on wetland, particular floodplains, in a range of areas across the country. Six papers draw attention to details of the aquacultural systems that produce the valued fish protein. One paper singles out shrimp aquaculture in a coastal region while another considers how invasive species might induce further complications. Taken together, the papers will increase appreciation of the ecosystem health and management challenges India faces with its essential fisheries resources as climate change continues in the coming decades.