Climate Change and Fisheries( Booklet)-2009
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Transcript of Climate Change and Fisheries( Booklet)-2009
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5CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCESCLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES
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CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES
The book is published by Center for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS) in favar of Climate Change Cell of Bangladesh Government.
CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES
Printing , 2009
ContactClimate Change Cell Room 514, Paribesh BhabhanE-16, Sher-E-Bangla Nagar, Agargaon, Dhaka-1207, BangladeshPhone: (880-2) 9111379 Extension 147; 0666 2301 021E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.climatechangecell-bd.org
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CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES
Fisheries Resources of Bangladesh
The fisheries sector plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of our country by creating employment opportunities, earning valuable foreign currencies, fulfilling nutritional requirements of the increased population and improving the environment, while also playing a significant role in poverty alleviation.
The inland open water area of Bangladesh is approximately 40 lakh 47 hectares, the closed water area is approx. 5 lakh $ 28 thousands hectare and the border area of marine water is 1 lakh 66 thousands square km (Department of Fisheries, 2007). About 1 crore and 30 lakh people of this country directly or indirectly depend on the fisheries sector for their livelihoods. Of these, about 12 lakh people are directly Dependent on the fisheries sector for their livelihoods. 60% of the animal protein comes from fish in Bangladesh. Additionally, 6% of the total export earnings and 5% of the total national earnings come from the fisheries sector. For the last 5 years, the average economic growth rate of this sector was about 6%.
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CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES
Serious adverse impacts are being observed on the natural environment due to climate change and Bangladesh is one of the worst affected countries. Bangladesh is rated as one of the most vulnerable due to its geographical position, low plain land, over-population, weak infrastructure, poverty and high dependency on natural resources. All the sectors of Bangladesh will be hampered to some extent by climate change. Human welfare related service sectors meant for public welfare, particularly the infrastructure, health, habitat, agriculture, fisheries including natural environment will be hampered, which will obstruct our ongoing socio-economic development process.
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Impacts of climate changeThe 4th research report of IPCC (2007) observes several adverse impacts of climate change ; the ones significant to Bangladesh are:
Increased temperature
Over flood, excessive rainfall or untimely rainfall
Increased drought duration
Sea-level rise
Penetration of saline water
Increased effect/virulence of storm and tidal surge
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Climate change and Fisheries resourcesThe fisheries resources of Bangladesh can be divided into three categories : 1. Closed water bodies 2. Inland open water bodies and 3. Marine fisheries resources
Closed water : Pond, gher and baor are considered as closed water bodies, as they are not usually breached by the regular seasonal floods. Different types of fish and shrimp are cultured in closed water bodies. There are 1.3 million ponds in Bangladesh, which cover an area of 0.147 million hectares. Baors (a body of water formed when a wide meander from the mainstream of a river is cut off to create a lake) cover 5,488 hectares and shrimp ghers in coastal areas 0.110 million hectares. Livelihoods of thousands of families are at least partially dependent on closed water fisheries.
Inland open water : Inland open water consists of all freshwater bodies other than the closed ones (e.g. river, haor, beel, khal/canal and seasonal floodplain). During the monsoon, all of them connect together to form a vast single water body that provides fish their breeding, nursery and wandering ground. The total area of open water bodies in Bangladesh is 4.47 hectares, providing a habitat for 260 species of fish and 24 species of prawn. Millions of poor fishers of the country earn their livelihoods by fishing in the open water bodies.
Marine fisheries resources : Bangladesh owns 0.166 square kilometers of sea-jurisdiction. Three of the largest rivers of Asia - the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna, flowing over a wide-spread area, carry huge sediment-loads before falling into the Bay of Bengal. For this reason, the coastal areas of Bangladesh are highly fertile and rich in diverse fish resources.
The fisheries resources of the country are being disturbed by numerous natural and human activities leading to the extinction of different fish species and decreasing their production. According to IUCN research, 54 species of fresh water fish are endangered in Bangladesh. Climate change will make fisheries resources more vulnerable and will accelerate the degradation. This booklet highlights probable impacts of climate change on these three types of fisheries resources of Bangladesh and proposes actions to help adapt to the changed circumstances.
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4CC Impacts and adaptation measures for fish culture in closed water bodies
Due to increased temperature Adaptation measures
Due to excess rain and floods Adaptation measures
Problems can arise in fry production in hatcheries, which will create difficulty in fry availability
Pond fish enter the open water system Set up net/bana/fence surrounding the bank of the pond, so that fish cannot get out/in
Stock fish fry in the pond after passing probable timing of flooding
Culture fast growing fish species thus avoiding the rainy season
Catch the fish earlier if over flooding is likely to occur
Rear the fish in hapa or culture fish in cages during vulnerable periods
Catch unwanted fish through netting and introduce a small amount of lime to the ponds
Predatory and other fish can enter the ponds
Waste may enter the ponds and pollute them
Cultured exotic fish from ponds may spread
Increased virulence of disease-microbes can cause fish epidemics in the ponds
Occurrence of excessive phytoplankton layers in pond water can cause water pollution
Increased mortality rates of shrimp fry if water temperature is more than 320C (CEGIS)
New fish diseases may evolve
Accelerated organic decomposition in ponds/ghers can cause scarcity of oxygen; blocked respiration will result in a fish-epidemic
Re-schedule the reproductive season or keep the water of hatcheries at a low temperature
Keep the water temperature at a tolerable level and pulling horra through the water to make the pond free from polluted gas
Bring changes in the fish-culturing season
Make sheds using hyacinth so that fish can take shelter during hot whether
Arrange aerators in the water, if possible
Culture high temperature tolerant fish
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5Due to increased virulence of drought Adaptation measures
Increase pond depth
Change the cultivation season
Supply water to ponds from tube-wells or other sources
Culture fast growing fish e.g. tilapia, sarputi
Culture fish resistant to unfavorable conditions e.g. shing, magur, koi.
Culture dhaincha (jute-like fibrous plant) and mix it with the soils when matured; this increases the water holding capacity of the pond
Ponds may dry up or water may become scarce
Excessive increase of pond water may cause fish-death
Increased density may kill fish
Fish diseases may occur
Fish may experience obstructions to their normal biological process
Adaptation measures
Due to increases in sea surface level/height
In the coastal area, shrimp ghers and fish ponds may overflow or their sides may collapse
Carp fish culture may be hindered due to increased salinity in the fresh water ponds
Shrimp cultivation will increase inland which is a threat to the environment.
Strengthen the sides of shrimp-ghers and ponds
Culture marine fish species (vetki, bata, tengra), crab and shrimp in cages
Culture Rui fish in the rainy season with shrimps in ponds/ghers when salinity is lower
Ensure fry supply of shrimp, vetki, bata, tengra etc. by artificial breeding in coastal areas
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Adaptation measures
Due to saline water penetration
Culturing fish will be disturbedGrowth of fresh water fish will be hamperedWater quality of ponds/ghers may deteriorateRui fish farms and hatcheries, established in coastal areas, will be damagedVegetables and trees grown on the banks of pond may die
Culture saline water tolerant fish (e.g. bata, vetki, tengra), shrimps and crabsCulture Rui fish in the rainy season with shrimps in ponds/ghers when salinity is lowerGrow Aman in shrimp-ghers; waters should be changed at regular intervalsTrain fish farmers on the culturing of marine fish species/saline water fish, shrimps, and crabs and provide the necessary materials and technical assistance.
Due to increased virulence of tidal surges
Stocked fish may get out in the case of overflow
Sell fish if possible immediately after receiving signals of cyclonesRe-schedule the fish culture season to adjust to the probable timing of tidal surge
Increase the height of pond-banks
Train fish farmers on strategies to cope with tidal surges
Tie-up the cages more strongly in case of cage fish culturePlant trees on the banks of the ponds which don't break easily; stems and branches should be regularly cut
Salinity intrusion may kill fish or restrict their growth
Waste may enter and pollute the ponds
Pond depth may decrease due to murky or sand-loaded water entering the ponds; broken trees falling on the pond may also pollute the water
Adaptation measures
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Impacts and actions for open water fishThe impact of climate change on open water can be divided into three categories : 1. Impact on water bodies 2. Impact on fish and 3. Impact on fishers
1. Impact on water bodies Adaptation measures
Many of the water bodies may get
Some of the fish species may shift their
The balance in native aquatic biodiversity may be disturbed by exotic and predatory fish when ponds are over flooded
Make bana or fence the pond to prevent exotic and predatory fish from entering open water bodies
Educate the fish farmers, on the impacts of cultured exotic/harmful fish reaching the open water bodies from their pondsInform the fishers on the changing climate and seasonal shifts.
The fish harvesting season may change
The effectiveness of some of the fishing gears may be reduced
The production of some species may increase due to the increased roaming area of fishThe aquatic environment may change
Realistic measures should be undertaken based on the research on the impacts of a temperature rise on particular species
Fishers should be informed about the changes of fishing grounds and take action to protect them
Fishers should be made more responsible by informing them of the results of the research.
Species diversity may be reduced if fish-reproductive and migration period changesFishing grounds may changeContagion/infection of fish diseases may increaseOverall fish production may declineFish growth may accelerate due to moderate increases of temperature
Re-excavate the water body
Re-establish the connection between rivers and beels by excavating canals
Conserve kum/doar situated in the riverTake measures to store water in these lands during the dry season
Grow crops that require less water in the wetlands during the Rabi season.
Source mouth of the river may dry up
River flow may change
Rivers and the connecting canals may get sediment-loaded
Water bodies may change in shape, area and type.
2. Impact on fish
Due to increased temperature Adaptation measures
Due to over flood Adaptation measures
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Due to increased virulence of drought
Beel, river and canal water may dry up
Adaptation measures
Create fish sanctuaries by excavating the beels, canals and rivers for the protection of fish stocks in the dry season
Due to increased sea surface level/height
Damage to the mangrove forest will shrink the breeding and nursery grounds of various species of fish, shrimp and crab hampering the fish production Hilsa and shrimp breeding grounds and migration patterns may changeAvailability of saline water fish may increase
Production of fresh water fish may reduce and some of the species may become extinct
Release the fry of endangered fish species in the endangered/greatly critical water bodiesRestrict fishing in the breeding season to protect fish breeding groundsProhibit fishing with harmful netsArrange alternate irrigation sources during the Rabi seasonIdentify endangered/critical fish habitats for the dry season to protect them
Shelter for fish will decrease during the dry period
Mother fish will declineSome fish species may become extinct or their habitat may shiftConversion of beels, khals and rivers into agricultural lands will squeeze the habitat for fishAs a whole, natural and fishing mortality will increase; as a result, species diversity and production will decrease
Adaptation measures
Research the impact of increased sea-levels on hilsa fish and shrimps
Conduct research on fresh water fish to find steps to be taken to address the changed situationMake amendments to fish conservation lawsProtect mangrove forests and create new ones
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Species diversity will change in the coastal areas. Numbers of fresh water fish species will decrease and saline/brackish water fish will increase
Sanctuaries established in different water bodies of the country may get disturbed
Fishers' dwelling places and cultivable land may be damaged
Improve the dwelling place of fishers
Establish tube-wells and sanitary latrines in a secure place
Train fishers to adapt to the new situation and provide them assistance
Innovate fish harvesting gears to cope with the changed situation
Arrange alternative income for fishers
Move fishers and their boats and gears to a secure place immediately after getting disaster forecasts
Mortality rate of fishers may increase
Some of the fishing gears may become useless/damaged
Livelihoods of the fishers will be disturbed
Weakness of health/sickness of the fishers may increase.
The varied impacts of climate change almost always affect fish
Mangrove forests, a breeding and migratory ground of various aquatic animals including shrimps and crabs, may get damaged
Navigability in the beel, canal and river may decrease due to damage by tidal surges which may squeeze the fish habitat
Research the impact of saline water intrusion on open water fish and take steps accordingly
Research the impact of saline water intrusion on the natural breeding ground of Rui fish and fish fry in the halda river and take steps on the basis of research findings
Research the impact of saline water penetration on Hilsa breeding and fry
Breeding grounds for Rui fish in the halda river may get hampered
Adverse impacts may be observed on fresh water fish species
Shifts in the customary/usual fish harvesting season may occur
Breeding and migration of Hilsa fish may change
Due to saline water penetration Adaptation measures
Due to saline water penetration Adaptation measures Adaptation measures
Create mangrove forests extending over the whole coastal area
Tie up the khata materials of sanctuaries tightly
Re-establish the damaged mangrove forest
Excavate the beel, canal and river which were filled up due to the tidal surge
3. Impact on Fishers Adaptation measures
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Impact and actions for marine fisheries resource
Due to increased sea surface temperature
Due to increased sea surface temperature Adaptation measures
The impacts of climate change on marine fisheries resources can be divided into two categories : 1. Impact on fisheries resources and 2. Impact on fishers
1. Impact on fisheries resources
Species diversity and production/ availability of fish and shrimps will change
Research the impact on the marine resources of fish, shrimps, sharks etc. (breeding growth, migration and roaming/wandering ground) and act on the basis of research findings
Research the impact of temperature on coral and take actions accordingly
Determine the impact of temperature on sea turtles and take effective steps for their protection
Fish, shrimps and other sea and coastal fisheries breeding processes may be hamperedThe migration pattern of hilsa and other fish and shrimps may change
Fishing grounds may change
Species diversity and production of fish, available in the coral area may be reduced due to damage to corals.
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CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES
Due to increased sea surface level/height
The breeding and roaming grounds of marine and coastal hilsa fish may change
Research the impact of increased sea surface levels on marine and coastal fisheries resources and take action on the basis of research findings
Amend current policies and activities for Hilsa conservation
Conduct relevant research through collaboration with neighboring countries.
Coral may be damaged and the diversity of coral-dependent fish species may be reduced
Migration of fish and shrimps may change
Coastal fish species diversity and availability may change.
Adaptation measures
Due to increased virulence of storm and tidal surge
Adaptation measures
The species diversity and production of fish and shrimp may change
Fry of marine fish, shrimps and crabs of the coastal area may be disturbed in their breeding and nursery grounds
Fish breeding and nursery grounds may be damaged due to the damage to mangrove forest and coral
Research the impacts of storms and tidal surges on marine and coastal fisheries resources and take steps on the basis of research findings.
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CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES
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2. Impact on fishersMost of the fishers dependent on marine fishes are very poor and landless. They are the most vulnerable to natural disasters, as they live in disaster prone areas very close to the sea. Increases in the number of disasters due to climate change will create a critical situation for these fishers, for example:
Agricultural and livestock resources of the fishers may be hampered
Rehabilitate the fishers; build up their houses on high land and construct cyclone shelters
Increase awareness of the fishers regarding the actions to take in the changed situation and provide them training
Make fishers aware of the changed fishing grounds
Innovate appropriate fishing gears
Provide technical assistance for making boats resistant to high waves.
Ensure an adequate supply of drinking water for domestic animals by digging deep ponds near the shelter center
Arrange facilities to preserve fishing gears in the shelter centres
Make a high earthen shelter center for domestic animals
Arrange an adequate supply of drinking water by digging tube wells
Increase awareness regarding probable diseases during the disaster period and facilitate the treatment-facilities
Drinking water will become scarce and various diseases may spread
Fishers' working-day will decrease due to long durations of high sea tide and their livelihoods may be disturbed
The lives, boats and fishing gears of the fishers will be more vulnerable to damage
Coastal char areas may change; the change may occur in the wandering/roaming area of fish
Some of the fish harvesting gears may be useless or damaged
Coastal erosion may increase and so the fishers' sea-shore habitats may get washed out
Adaptation measures
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CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES
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The role of Union, Upazila and District Disaster Management Committee
To identify the area-wise risks of the fisheries sector through the participation of fishers and fish farmers representing different areas
To provide training to field-level fisheries officers on climate changeTo maintain effective coordination in implementing planned interventionsTo suggest amendments to fisheries related laws and policies, adapting to the changed situationTo include the fishers under all the government and non-government welfare institutions including the local government councilTo collect, provide and send the information on the impacts of climate and share this centrally.
To train the fishers/fish farmers to increase their skill in risk management
To strengthen the early warning/alarming system for disaster prone areas
To make the fishers/fish farmers capable of handling risks and provide them
To keep funds ready for the advanced planning and implementation of post-disaster rehabilitation
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CLIMATE CHANGE & FISHERIES RESOURCES