Climate Exchange

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griculture

sary to first strengthen the existing management measures and their

successful implementation.

The fisheries sector is facing the familiar problems of overfish-

ing, pollution and habitat degradation. Reducing fishing mortality

in the majority of fisheries, which are currently fully exploited

or overexploited, is one of the principal means of reducing the

impacts of climate change. Reduction of fishing effort will (i)

maximize sustainable yields, (ii) help adaptation of fish stocks and

marine ecosystems to climate impacts, and (iii) reduce greenhouse

gas emission by fishing boats. In this regards, it is also necessary

to seriously consider adapting the FAO’s Code of Conduct for

Responsible Fisheries.

Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) mechanisms need

to be improved to observe and manage the fish stocks and fishing

efforts. MCS should also include collection of climatic and oceano-

graphic data. Long-term environmental and ecological monitoring

programmes are important, since data cannot be collected retro-

spectively. In India, spatial marine fish catch and effort data are

available for the last four decades but a synergy between climatic

and oceanographic data and fisheries data is lacking. Projections

on climate change impact on fish populations need to be developed

as the first step for future analytical and empirical models, and

for planning better management adaptations. In most of the other

countries in the region, the data collections mechanisms also need

to be further strengthened to draw conclusions on the impact of

climate change on fisheries.

Towards a methodology for adapting to climate change in the

BOBLME region

Taking preventive measures

– Coastal planning should take into

account the impacts of climate change, especially sea level rise, SST,

prolonged droughts, severe rainfall, cyclones and storm surges.

Integrated coastal zone management is essential for coastal zone

planning, management, monitoring and evaluation. It requires close

coordination with government agencies and communities. Coastal

communities should be prepared to combat climate change through

disaster preparedness activities.

Increased awareness on the impacts of climate change

– Countries

should prepare specific policy documents on the implications of climate

change for fisheries sector. These documents should take into account

all relevant social, economic and environmental policies and actions

including education, training and public awareness related to climate

change. Effort is also required to raise awareness of the impact, vulner-

ability, adaptation and mitigation related to climate change among all

stakeholders so that they can become watchful and perceptive.

Research requirements

– All these procedures should be guided

by a cooperative research programme. That is a programme not

just specifically for climate change but more on how to move from

the present state to a state of readiness. This should also involve a

two-way interaction with the fishers to keep them informed of the

developments at all times.

Presently, options for adaptation to climate change in the

BOBLME region are limited but do exist. In the present context,

the primary challenge before the fisheries sector is to ensure food

and nutritional security, improve livelihood and economic output,

and ensure ecosystem integrity. These objectives call for identifying

and addressing the concerns arising out of climate change; evolving

adaptive mechanisms and implementing action across all stakehold-

ers at national, regional and international levels.

Case study: Sembasipalli village, Pulicat, Tamil Nadu

Sembasipalli village is located 50km to the north of

Chennai city and lies on margin of Pulicat Lake, one of the

largest brackish water lakes in India. The village has 250

households, with a total population of 920.

Sembasipalli has 262 active fishers and a fleet of 86

motorized boats. Fishing and fishing-related activities and

rearing of livestock form the major economic activity in the

village. Most fishing is carried out with set bag nets in the

estuarine waters during monsoon and gill nets and purse-

seines throughout the year in the lake and the adjacent sea.

The major species harvested include: Indian mackerel, oil and

lesser sardines, prawns and crabs.

Mullets and Lactarius spp. formed the dominant fishery

in the late eighties, but have gradually declined and are

now rarely found in the lake fishery. This is due primarily to:

reduced rainfall, siltation of the lake mouth and consequent

decreased inflows and less water exchange, increase in

temperature and reduction in water level due to heavy

intake of water by the neighbouring thermal power plant at

Ennore. The villagers feel that besides the impacts of the

thermal power plant, the repeated delay in the onset of

monsoon in the area is affecting the spawning of fish and

thereby reduction in fish abundance.

Due to the decline in fish catches from the lake and

coastal waters, the fishers are venturing into the deeper

waters. Ten years ago the fishers were fishing in depths of

12-15 fathoms, but now they are fishing in 25-35 fathoms,

an increased distance of 5-8km from the traditional

fishing grounds. As compared to previous years, the Indian

mackerels and oil sardine are now dominating the landings.

The fishers of Sembasipalli seem to be more aware of

the phenomenon of changing climate. From the general

observations, the villagers have reported occurrences of

erratic winds after the December 2004 Asian Tsunami,

increased SST and sea level. The villagers feel that their

day-to-day life is affected by the changing climate and they

would like to learn more about the science behind the

climate change phenomenon and adaptation of climate

change through awareness programmes.

Increased landings of low value species such as oil sardines

require interventions in post-harvest methodologies, especially for

fisher women in the region

Image: S Jayaraj