India’s marine ecosystems and fisheries are undergoing significant transformations due to climate change, warn marine scientists.
Experts came together for a two-day national seminar on Mitigating Climate Change Impact on Marine Ecosystems, jointly organised by ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and the Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi.
“A major concern is the shift in fish phenology – species like silver pomfret are now maturing at just 280 grams, down from 410 grams,” said Dr Grinson George, director, CMFRI, in his keynote address.
“This trend is evident in other species like prawns, sardines and mackerel, affecting their reproduction and recruitment into fisheries.”
He also highlighted a northward migration of key fish stocks like the Indian oil sardine, driven by changes in rainfall, oceanic upwelling, food availability and oxygen levels. “Fishermen are also losing increasing numbers of fishing days every year due to cyclone warnings and extreme weather,” he said.
Inaugurating the seminar, Dr K R Sreenath, director, Fishery Survey of India, said, “We are witnessing coral bleaching in Lakshadweep, endangering biodiversity and coastal protection.” He stressed the need for a ‘community-based approach and improved prediction models for both weather events and fish distribution’.
Dr K Mohammed Koya, fisheries development commissioner, Government of India, noted, “Climate change has damaged seagrass beds in Lakshadweep. Promoting seaweed farming could be part of the solution, while the national carbon market can incentivise fishers to adopt restorative practices.”
Prof. Vinod Sharma, climate change advisor to the Government of Sikkim, added, “Since 2000, shoreline changes have accelerated. The Arabian Sea is seeing more cyclones, leading to saltwater intrusion that threatens coastal communities.”
The seminar, concluding today, covers adaptive management, nature-based solutions, socio-economic resilience and emerging technologies.
