The Fifth Assessment Report from the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is the
most comprehensive and relevant analysis of our
changing climate. It provides the scientific fact base
that will be used around the world to formulate
climate policies in the coming years.
This document is one of a series synthesizing the most pertinent findings
of AR5 for specific economic and business sectors. It was born of the belief
that the business sector could make more use of AR5, which is long and
highly technical, if it were distilled into an accurate, accessible, timely,
relevant and readable summary.
Although the information presented here is a ‘translation’ of the key
content relevant to this sector from AR5, this summary report adheres to
the rigorous scientific basis of the original source material.
Grateful thanks are extended to all reviewers from both the science and
business communities for their time, effort and invaluable feedback on
this document.
The basis for information presented in this overview report can be found
in the fully-referenced and peer-reviewed IPCC technical and scientific
background reports at: www.ipcc.ch
Reclaiming Pure Traditions Plants Enrichen Our Farms and Food.pdf
Infographic: Fisheries and Aquaculture
1. Climte Chnge - Everyone's Business Implictions for Fisheries nd Aquculture
Shifts in
fish popultions
to higher or
lower l titudes
Oxygen Minimum Zones
in the ocean are likely
to spread
Key Findings from the Intergovernment‹l P‹nel on Clim‹te Ch‹nge (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) For more inform‹tion ple‹se visit cisl.cm.c.uk/ipcc
Reefs re dying fster
thn they re growing
Ocen cidificton
wekens shellfish
Climate Change Multiplies Existing Threats to the Ocean
Fisheries provide three billion people with around 20% of their
average intake of animal protein, and 400 million depend critically
on sh for food. Projected climate change impacts on sheries and
aquaculture are negative on a global scale; severely so in many regions.
The Economics of Fish Redistribution
Fisheries yield is projected to increase by 30–70%in high latitudes, but to fall
by 40–60% in the tropics and Antarctica, based on 2°C warming. Large species
such as tuna in the Pacific and Indian Oceans are likely to shift eastwards.
Global loss of landings is projected at USD17 to 41 billion up to 2050.
OPTIONS Undert‹ke vulner‹bility ‹ssessments. Strengthen co‹stal
zone m‹n‹gement. Reduce ‹qu‹culture dependence on fishme‹l.
Ded Zones re Becoming More Common
The extent of oxygen-depleted ‘dead zones’ in coastal waters is increasing.
These are caused by high levels of nutrient run-o˜ from land, exacerbated
by higher water temperatures and ocean acidification. In the open ocean,
the extent of ‘oxygen minimum zones’ (OMZs), caused by ocean warming,
also appears to be increasing. These waters are oxygen-poor in the
mid-layers and so are unable to support large active fish.
OPTIONS Re‹ssess ‹nd reinforce m‹rine protected ‹re‹s.
Protect m‹ngrove forests, se‹ gr‹ss beds ‹nd s‹lt m‹rshes.
Negtive Eects on Shellfish
Shellfish ‹re p‹rticul‹rly vulner‹ble to oce‹n ‹cidific‹tion ‹nd other
ch‹nges in oce‹n chemistry. Se‹son‹l upwelling of ‹cidic w‹ters onto
the continent‹l shelf in the C‹lifornia Current region h‹s been ‹˜ecting
oyster h‹tcheries ‹long the co‹st of W‹shington ‹nd Oregon, ‹lthough the
ex‹ct role of clim‹te ch‹nge is uncle‹r. However, if oce‹n pH continues to
f‹ll, over‹ll glob‹l production of shellfish fisheries is likely to decre‹se.
OPTIONS Reduce non-clim‹te ch‹nge-rel‹ted stressors. Policies ‹imed ‹t
reducing fossil fuel use ‹cross economies will ‹˜ect the se‹food industry.
Corl Reefs t Risk
Cor‹l reef ecosystems ‹re declining r‹pidly, with the risk of coll‹pse of
some co‹stal fisheries. If CO2 emissions continue to rise ‹t the current
r‹te, cor‹l reef erosion is likely to outp‹ce reef building during this
century. Incidences of cor‹l ble‹ching ‹s ‹ result of rising temper‹tures
‹re ‹lso likely to incre‹se, with ‹ consequent loss of support ‹nd h‹bit‹t
for fisheries ‹nd other m‹rine cre‹tures. Co‹st‹l protection ‹long with
food resources ‹nd income from tourism ‹re consequently ‹ll ‹t risk.
OPTIONS Cre‹te new h‹bit‹ts such ‹s ‹rtifici‹l reefs to
‹ct ‹s fish nurseries in ‹re‹s where cor‹l destruction occurs.
FIVE AREAS TO WATCH
High l‹titude spring bloom systems
Subtropic‹l gyres
Equ‹tori‹l upwelling systems
Co‹st‹l bound‹ry systems
E‹stern bound‹ry current upwelling systems
The Ocen’s Chemistry is Chnging t n Unprecedented Rte
Ocean acidication – the result of enhanced carbon dioxide uptake from the air – puts commercially
important sh and shellsh at risk. The ocean’s pH has already fallen by 0.1 since pre-industrial
times, roughly corresponding to a 30% increase in acidity. If CO2 emissions continue to rise at
the current rate, a further pH drop of 0.3 by 2100 is projected.
Chnge in ocen surfce pH by 2100
under the ‘business-s-usul' scenrio.
-0.6 (MORE ACIDIC) -0.05