Fishing and Livelihood; UNIMAC-IJ Project

By: Nelly Hayford Photo credit: Sonia Nakie Kumah The dynamic relationship between climate change and the world's oceans is transforming the global fisheries landscape. As our planet experiences unprecedented shifts in temperature and atmospheric conditions, the intricate harmony of marine ecosystems is undergoing fundamental changes. Within this intricate dance, the repercussions on fishing industries are profound and diverse.  From the reconfiguration of fish species distribution to the acidification of oceans, each aspect of climate change leaves a lasting imprint on the complex tapestry of life beneath the ocean's surface. This examination delves into four crucial dimensions of this influence, unraveling how these environmental shifts pose challenges to the sustainability, adaptability, and predictability of fishing practices on a global scale. Impacts   To begin with, climate change leads to the Loss of Habitat Diversity: Climate change contributes to the degradation...

By Comfort Blankson  Photo credit: Comfort Blankson Climate change has had a relevant impact on fishing around the world as a global village. As the temperatures rise, the   abysses that's   the deepest part of the ocean where no light ever penetrates, and the acidity   situations leveling up, the fishing concentration has been greatly affected. The impact of climate change on fishing has endangered the livelihoods of l of people all around the world who depend on fishing to make an ends meet or for survival.    One of the most   appalling impacts   of climate change on fishing industry is the reduction in fish populations. According to Allison L Perry, Paula J Low, Jim R Ellis, John D Reynolds, the distribution of both exploited and non exploited fishes have responded markedly  to recent increases in sea temperatures, with nearly two-thirds of species shifting in mean latitude or depth or both over 25 years. As there's a high in temper...

 By: Sonia Emmanuella V Narkie Kumah Photo credit: Sonia Emmanuella V Nakie Kumah Climate change is affecting various aspects of our lives, from the environment and natural resources to agriculture, public health, and even our economies. Its impacts can be seen in extreme weather events, sea-level rise, changes in ecosystems, and disruptions to food production. It has become a pressing issue, impacting various aspects of our lives, including the fishing industry, following the effects of rising sea temperatures on fishermen and their livelihoods and also delving into the changing weather patterns and their influence on fishing practices and approaching the challenges faced by fishermen. First of all, what is climate change and are people aware of it? Well, climate change refers to long-term shifts and alterations in Earth's climate patterns, caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation etc and gradually these activities release greenhouse gases in...

By: Gabriel Quaye Morrison  Photo credit: Gabriel Quaye Morrison  The oceans play a significant role in regulating global climate. Their heat capacity (and thus net heat uptake) is about 1000 times larger than that of the atmosphere (Barange and Perry, 2010) and they therefore absorb significant amount of heat emitted globally. Such changes in ocean temperatures can change the dynamics of aquatic environments of the region. Changes in ocean dynamics could lead to changes in migration patterns of fish and possibly reduce fish landings, especially in coastal fisheries (African Action, 2007). For example, increased ocean temperature may affect upwelling along the Gulf of Guinea, which can make the ocean waters become unsuitable for fisheries, causing a reduction in and possible collapse of fishing activities (African Action, 2007 in Urama and Ozor, 2010). Inland waters are also equally vulnerable and could be impacted strongly by clima...

By Gloria Tettey Photo credit: Gloria Tettey Imagine a world where the once abundant oceans are now struggling to provide enough fish to sustain our growing population. This is the reality we face as the availability of fish diminishes due to different reasons, among which climate change is included. One may ask,What is climate change?  Climate change is the long-term change in the weather patterns and temperatures on earth. This is caused by human activities like burning fossil fuels, leading to global warming. Nonetheless, the risen sea temperature and ocean acidification, which are some effects of climate change, have had a great impact on fish. The warming of the ocean and the increased acidity of its waters have disturbed the habitat of marine ecosystems and had an impact on their population. This can cause alterations in the way fish migrate, the availability of their food, and their overall productivity. Fish is an excellent source of calories and protein, which provides the...

 By: Quansah Dorothy  Photo credit: Quansah Dorothy Evidence of the impacts of anthropogenic climate change in marine ecosystems is accumulating, but must be evaluated in the context of the normal climate cycles of variability, which have caused fluctuations in fisheries throughout human history.  A detailed account of how estuaries worldwide are being impacted by human actions and global climate changes. The long term effects of climate change loading on trophic organization describes a research effort that Dr Robert J. Livingston has been conducting for over 40 years. The impacts on fisheries can be attributed to a variety of physical and chemical factors, such as temperature, wind, salinity, oxygen, PH and others. The direct effects have an impact on the physiology, development rates, reproduction, behavior and survival of individuals, and can sometimes be investigated experimentally and in controlled conditions.  Ecosystem processes and changes in food production...

By: Anim Kojo Samuel By Anim Kojo Samuel Climate change, a global phenomenon driven by human activities, is profoundly impacting various sectors of the economy and the environment. One of the sectors most vulnerable to these changes is fishing, a vital industry supporting millions of people worldwide. This article delves into the multifaceted impacts of climate change on fishing communities and the urgent need for adaptive strategies to ensure the sustainability of this crucial livelihood. Rising Sea Temperatures and Fish Migration One of the significant consequences of climate change is the rise in sea temperatures. As oceans warm, fish species are migrating to cooler waters, disrupting established fishing patterns. Traditional fishing communities find themselves facing unfamiliar species, leading to uncertainties in catch and economic stability. This migration also poses challenges for fisheries management, requiring constant adjustments to regulations and quotas. Ocean Acidification...

  By: Boako Eugenia Nhyira Nyamekye Photo credit: Boako Eugenia Nhyira Nyamekye The figure shows fishermen pulling their nets off their boats after fishing all day. According to the Marine Stewardship Council, fishing activities is one of the major contributor to reducing poverty and food scarcity in the world. A study by Brange and Perry 2010 showed that fishing contributes to creating over 100 million employment across the globe   Climate change generally causes overfishing, habitat degradation, pollution amongst others. Fishing activities in Ghana contribute two-thirds of the country's fish food production and employ up to 2 million of the Ghanaian citizens according to a research done by the SSA. However, many fish stocks are close to collapse or completely collapsed due to the high climate changes across the globe. Climate change has affected and is still having an impact on fishing activities as well as the fish food security of the world. According to a research do...