Climate change and fish
Our oceans and fish stocks may be under threat from changing water temperatures. Fisheries and communities around the world could be affected.
If our climate changes, the temperature of oceans, seas and lakes will change too. We don’t yet know the full impact on fishing and marine ecosystems, but it seems likely that vulnerable marine species will be under more pressure.
Many fisheries will be seriously affected as the ecosystems that underpin them face new and uncertain challenges.
How will climate change affect fish and fisheries?
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that:
• as sea temperatures change, fish numbers will change and fish will move to different areas
• some species will go extinct in particular areas
• predators and prey will move to different areas, disrupting food chains
• wetlands and other low lying habitats where fish reproduce will be covered by rising sea levels
• water in lakes will get warmer
• bad weather may stop fishers going to sea
These changes may affect fisheries worldwide, but the impacts are likely to be particularly damaging for fishers in developing countries.
Why is sustainable fishing important in a time of climate change?
• Helping fishers adapt: Sustainable, well managed fisheries, such as those in the MSC program, will be well-positioned to adapt to climate change.
• Feeding a hungry world: Healthy, renewable food from fisheries will become more important as agriculture suffers from drought and other impacts of climate change.
What can you do to support sustainable fishing?
Buy sustainable fish and seafood - look for the MSC ecolabel in shops and restaurants worldwide
