Climate change will force transboundary fish stocks to move from habitats, migration paths: Report

What is the news?

According to a report, Fish stocks that move across two or more exclusive economic zones (EEZ) would be greatly impacted by climate change.

What are the key findings of the report related to fish stocks?

By 2100, Climate change will force 45% of the fish stocks that cross through two or more exclusive economic zones to shift significantly from their historical habitats and migration paths.

By 2030, 23% of these transboundary fish stocks will have changed their historical habitat range. 

Countries in tropical locations such as the Caribbean and South Asia will be hit first as water temperatures increase.

What will be the impact of these transboundary fish stocks shifting their historical habitats?

Reduced Catch Proportion of Fish: Changes in fish stock distribution will affect catches. By 2030, 85% of the world’s EEZs will have seen a change in the amount of their transboundary catch that exceeds normal yearly variation.

Conflicts between countries: Many countries that are highly dependent on fisheries for livelihood and food security would emerge as hotspots for transboundary shifts. This can lead to conflicts between countries, as many of the fisheries management agreements to regulate shared stocks were established in past decades.

What are the suggestions given by the report?

a) Crafting agreements that allow fishing fleets to fish in neighbouring countries waters while offering a share of the catch or profit b) Rebalancing and renegotiating many of the catch quota agreements that are already in place c) Action on mitigating climate change should help reduce projected shifts.

Source: This post is based on the article ‘Climate change will force transboundary fish stocks to move from habitats, migration paths: Report’ published in Down To Earth on 28th January 2022.