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Because of rising ocean temperatures, acidity, and more frequent extreme weather occurrences, climate change presents serious problems to the management of catch fisheries worldwide. This calls for science-based fisheries management, where fisheries managers must comprehend how ocean circumstances affect particular fish stocks and fisheries before putting adaptive policy measures into place to ensure fish stocks remain healthy and productive.
Image Source: OECD
Effective fisheries management is essential for ensuring the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of the fisheries sector. It plays a critical role in protecting, preserving, and enhancing the health, productivity, and abundance of fish stocks. Sustainable fisheries management involves a combination of science-based tools to limit fish catch and catch type. Input controls regulate fleet and gear characteristics, while output controls, such as quotas and minimum fish sizes, limit the total allowable catch (TAC) of individual stocks.
National and international fisheries management organizations need to be flexible, proactive, and dynamic to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change. This includes conducting regular assessments, adjusting TACs and national quota allocations, and fostering cooperation between scientists, stakeholders, and policymakers. Greater collaboration would help predict and determine the effects of climate change and develop mitigation methods.
Policymakers should also address the potential negative socio-economic impacts, as a decline in catches driven by climate change will affect fishers, the downstream industry and the communities that rely on fishing. Targeted support programs can be used to address economic impacts, minimizing impacts on vulnerable communities. Key strategies include rebuilding depleted fish stocks, ensuring science-based management, investing in assessment tools, and integrating climate adaptation into fisheries policy.
Reference:
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (14, April 2025). Sustainable fisheries management in a changing climate. Retrieved July 8, 2025, from https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/sustainable-fisheries-management-in-a-changing-climate_71e4b5ad-en.html
