Fish Catch To Decline Amidst Climate Change, Warns African Union

NAKURU,Kenya, Dec, 17 – People living in areas around massive water bodies, relying on fishing as their main source of livelihood have been warned to possibly brace themselves for the worst following studies that the fish population has tremendously declined in recent years as a result of climate change.

According to the Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), rising temperatures in the oceans had adverse effects on the ecosystem of the water bodies.

Despite the concerns, Africa is said to yet relize its potential within the blue economy.

The blue-economy is expected to hit the 500 billion US Dollar mark by 2030.

According to AU-IBAR programme manager Dr Clement Adjorlolo, warming phenomenal in the ocean has affected various fish species. A matter further worsened by the rising water levels.

“As the water temperatures rise, this has forced some species to relocate and this will have negative implications on fish catch in the coming days,” said Adjorlolo.

During an inception meeting on conserving the aquatic biodiversity in African blue-economy earlier this week, Adjorlolo said that the Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources was working with stakeholders to make sure the potential of the blue-economy was fully realized.

“The blue-economy has high potential in terms of tourism and aquatic resources and are keen to support member countries to tap this,” he said.  

Environmental degradation, carbon emissions and pollution as some of the challenges that were contributing to climate-change and a drop in fish catch across the continent.