Climate change

Climate change threatens the global food supply and poses challenges to maintaining food security and livelihoods. Learn more about the drivers of climate change and how small-scale fishing communities can build resiliency, adapt, and mitigate negative impacts.

Resources

Climate Change Poster

Poster on the impacts of climate change on fisheries

Identifying Pathways for Climate-Resilient Multispecies Fisheries

These case studies – from Mexico, Cuba, and Chile – differ in data richness, governance structure, and management resources. The management systems are also in various stages of evolution from unmanaged to complete management of a single species but transitioning to multispecies management.

Blue Infrastructure Supporting SDG 14 in Coastal Communities in Indonesia

In this white paper, “Blue Infrastructure Supporting SDG 14 in Coastal Communities in Indonesia,” we outline the pros, cons, and impact of blue infrastructure solutions, alternatives, and adaptations to gray infrastructure that will best suit the needs of coastal communities in Indonesia. We provide examples of what is working around the world, and hope this serves as a resource for other partners and decision-makers who want to achieve U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.

Lessons learned and public policy recommendations on adaptation to climate change in artisanal fisheries and small-scale aquaculture in Chile [Policy brief].

This document is part of the project “Strengthening the adaptive capacity to climate change in the fisheries and aquaculture sector of Chile. This document presents the primary results and innovative aspects of the project, in keeping with its three main components: strengthening of public and private institutional capacities; improvement of the adaptive capacity of artisanal fisheries and small-scale aquaculture; and strengthening knowledge and awareness about climate change in fishing and aquaculture communities

Climate Change and Marine Fisheries in Africa: Assessing Vulnerability and Strengthening Adaptation Capacity

This report takes stock of available knowledge on the economic importance of marine fisheries in sub-Saharan Africa and the populations that depend on them and provides a biophysical analysis of the impacts of climate change as they have already been measured and how they are modeled to evolve, a socioeconomic analysis of the same impacts of climate change, and preliminary estimates of the vulnerability of marine fisheries.

Threats to Coral Reefs: Overfishing

Coral reef fish are a significant food source for over a billion people worldwide. Many coastal and island communities depend on coral reef fisheries for their economic, social, and cultural benefits. But too much of a good thing can be bad for coral reefs.

Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, Summary for Policymakers

This Summary for Policymakers (SPM) presents key findings of the Working Group II (WGII) contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the IPCC1. The report builds on the WGII contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the IPCC, three Special Reports2, and the Working Group I (WGI) contribution to the AR6 cycle.

Marine Havens Under Threat: The impacts of the climate crisis on tropical coral reefs and the communities that rely on them

This report focuses on climate change as the primary long-term threat to coral reefs, but it is clear that both unsustainable fishing and pollution are serious near-term threats that must not be neglected.

Cambio Climático en México: Recomendaciones de Política Pública para la Adaptación del Sector Pesquero y Acuícola

Este documento presenta un análisis detallado de la situación de la pesca y la acuacultura de México ante la perspectiva y el desafío que constituye el cambio climático global, bajo la perspectiva ambiental y el marco jurídico existente que establece las líneas a seguir para la adaptación al cambio climático en el sector de interés

Building resilience to climate change and disaster risks for small-scale fisheries communities

This guide presents a perspective on implementing the climate change and disaster risk elements of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines), with special attention to protecting human rights.

Guía Metodológica para Construir Resiliencia ante el Cambio Climático en Comunidades Pesqueras

Ethos Laboratorio de Políticas Públicas y EDF México, con financiamiento de la Fundación Tinker, colaboran en el proyecto “Estrategias de resiliencia de las comunidades pesqueras mexicanas ante el cambio climático” (2021-2023), con el objetivo de fortalecer la resiliencia de las comunidades pesqueras ribereñas frente a los impactos del cambio climático. Para ello, han diseñado una guía metodológica, que consiste en una serie de pasos cuya implementación resulta en un Plan Comunitario de Resiliencia.

"Pagbalud" (When the Waves Swell)

In this video, Exec. Dir. of the Guiuan Development Foundation was featured as an exemplary scientist and community development worker who transcends science to coastal communities to attain sustainability of resources. This film topped the S&T Professional Category in the 2nd Philippine Indie-Siyensya Filmmaking Competition in 2017

Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for food security and nutrition

This report addresses a frequently overlooked but extremely important part of world food and nutrition security: the role and importance of fish in seeking food and nutrition security for all. Fisheries and aquaculture have often been arbitrarily separated from other parts of the food and agricultural systems in food security studies, debates and policy-making.

FishCounts: increasing the visibility of small-scale fisheries in Cambodia's national planning

This report explores the current state of Cambodia’s fisheries and the data that would be needed to develop such a set of accounts. It considers the country’s existing statistical information and monitoring efforts, and where the gaps, inconsistencies and overlaps lie. It proposes a phased approach to build on what already exists to create greater visibility for the contribution of small-scale fisheries to the national economy and their role in developing sustainable fishing and aquaculture in the face of growing demands and climate change.

Kokoly

Against a backdrop of extreme poverty, personal loss and a marine environment changing beyond her control, Kokoly lives on a knife edge. Filmed over four months, Kokoly follows a traditional Vezo fisherwoman Madame Kokoly - as she reflects on her live experiences and carries out her daily routine in and around the coastal waters of southwest Madagascar.

Dead fish is not manna

This publication brings to the frontline, issues that beg for attention in the fisheries sector.

Chapter one of this publication, titled COVID-19 and Fisheries, highlights how the pandemic has affected the fisheries subsector.

Chapter two, titled Dead Fish is not Manna, captures the peculiarities and challenges of fisheries in Nigeria noting the contaminated state of some of the fishes sold in the country's markets.

Adaptive management of fisheries in response to climate change

This report aims to accelerate climate change adaptation implementation in fisheries management throughout the world. It showcases how flexibility can be introduced in the fisheries management cycle in order to foster adaptation, strengthen the resilience of fisheries, reduce their vulnerability to climate change, and enable managers to respond in a timely manner to the projected changes in the dynamics of marine resources and ecosystems.

Towards gender-equitable small-scale fisheries governance and development

This document, Towards Gender-Equitable Small-Scale Fisheries – A handbook In support of the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (henceforth the “handbook”), was developed to support gender-equitable small-scale fisheries by enhancing the understanding of their gender dimensions, with a focus on the specific role and conditions of women in the small-scale fisheries sector.

Portraits of Change Video Series

This eight-part video series seeks to raise awareness of the impacts of climate change and other stressors on fishers, fish workers and fishing communities across the globe. These videos provide a firsthand account of the battles faced by fishers and fish workers as they are faced with declining fish populations, increasingly common extreme weather events and disruptions due to climate change, COVID-19 and other stressors.