4.3 Reading: Global fisheries

Countries who depend largely on marine resources particularly fish and fish product can be considered as losers when the marine ecosystem is adversely affected due to climate change. In another word coastal countries whose major GDP is from fisheries resources will be at the losing end in revenue generation. Also, the landlocked countries especially those whose source of animal protein is from fish are going to be part of the global communities that will also be losers. Conversely, the winners in this situation could be referred to developed countries who are engaged in distant water fishing or otherwise known as producers and suppliers of global fish and fish products.  Although the studies revealed that the increase in fish catch in the high latitude countries may not result to increase in revenue be of the low value fish, nevertheless, these countries are industrialized countries like China who are also largely involved in fish production through distance water fishing may shift towards other economic activities to continue revenue generation as compared to the losers’ countries with little or non-alternative revenue sources.

In every aspect, the final consumers are the most losers, who pay the ‘last cost’ incurred during the different steps in fish production. And the food security of developing countries whose major protein intake is from fisheries become more unstable and threaten the health system.

The governments loosing revenue from the fisheries sector are likely to shift their revenue generation towards other sectors, while putting pressure on either the forest, or minerals that may have already been depleted. I am thus concern about the projection made by the author about the drastic drop of the global fisheries revenue by 35% more than the projected decrease made for catches by 2050 if the CO2 emission continues in the same fashion. Developing countries like Sierra Leone depends largely on fisheries revenue that boosts the macro and micro economy will suffer grave impact.

 It is of essence for researchers to estimate the actual economic loss due to climate change impact on coastal countries whose major revenue is generated from marine resources.

The authors have already indicated some of the climate change effects on these countries such as sea level rise, increase in temperature and changes in seasons which can lead to variation in salinity, species composition and reduction in size of fish species. However, the researchers underscored and would like to encourage the global fisheries and marine states to cautiously consider shifting their fisheries and aquatic (marine) products towards developing aquaculture activities as a way to adjusting to the adverse effect of climate change impacts on marine capture fisheries. Additionally, they inferred that there is need to conduct future research to assess comprehensive economic effects of mitigating or not alleviating Green House Gas emissions.

The impact of CO2 emission on the fish revenue starts from the lower or household to global, affecting different actors, institutions, business arena, governments, I mean from bottom to top. The reduction in fish catch is evident in Sierra Leone local fish landing sites and markets, resulting to high price and expenditure in domestic food production.

The is apparent that more effort is now sued to catch very small fish resulting to high price and increase expenditure on fish protein intake. This may not be efficient for both consumers

Winners- industrialized countries engaged in Distance water fishing, or producers and suppliers for fish techniques and technologies, business people involved in fishing related activities, etc..

The fish business world (producers and suppliers) in developed countries will still win, by generating more revenue. Industrialized countries may invent more supplicated technologies to catch the reduced fish and sell at higher price. “No losses”

Fish price increased in Sierra Leone

‘My household of 7 is currently spending twice on fish protein as compered the last six months in Freetown.  I talked with my closest neighbor yesterday from the local market. The current price of fish is impacting on individual household income in Sierra Leone Freetown. A piece of “crocus” fish from the picture (length and weight unknown) has increase from SSL 30,000 to SSL 60 000 ((ie 2.36 -4.72 USD) within the period of six months.  With a mean HH size of 6 and an average monthly salary is $74'.

 

pic by Ranita -5/13/2022