India’s Small-Scale Fishers Face Growing Climate Risks, Warns Report
The report, prepared with guidance of national and UN experts identified climate vulnerability as a major challenge requiring proactive policy intervention
Chennai: India’s small-scale fishing communities are facing increasingly unpredictable climate risks, including rising temperatures, stronger storms, shifting monsoon patterns and changes in fish availability, according to a diagnostic report prepared as part of the proposed National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF).
The report, prepared by the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) with national experts and technical guidance from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, identified climate vulnerability as a major challenge requiring proactive policy intervention.
Fishing communities reported rising temperatures, unpredictable monsoons, frequent cyclones, stronger storm surges, changing fish species and declining sardine catches.
The report also noted an increasing number of rough-sea days, resulting in the loss of fishing days and livelihoods.
The assessment called for disaster mitigation and climate adaptation measures, including stronger boats, improved weather forecasts, better disaster-related infrastructure, timely compensation, skill development and alternative livelihood opportunities.
“Climate impacts vary depending on the type of fishing unit, access to infrastructure, financial capacity and the ability to recover after a disaster,” said Dr. P. Krishnan, director of BOBP-IGO.
Besides climate risks, the report highlighted poor market access, inadequate storage and processing facilities, safety concerns and limited participation of fishers and women in governance and decision-making.
With the initiation phase of the NPOA-SSF process completed, India has now entered the development phase, with the draft National Plan of Action expected to be ready by November 21 this year.