Page 47 - FAO-IPCC Expert meeting on climate change

Adaptation and resilience in food and land-based ecosystems
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4.7 Adaptation and coping mechanisms in aquaculture and inland fisheries
Aquaculture and inland fisheries are vulnerable to catastrophic climate conditions, often resulting in severe loss of stock and infrastructure. Moreover, adaptation responses to climate change and extreme events ( floods and droughts) can only be context-specific and vary for each production cluster. In Viet Nam’s Mekong catfish farms, the lower regions
are affected by sea level rise plus changes to flow and the most feasible adaptation is to cultivate salinity-tolerant strains of catfish. Likewise, the Amazon Basin in Brazil and Peru is impacted by climate change and native fish ponds, such as those for exotic tilapia, may suffer from water scarcity, while others are hit by more frequent flooding. In this system, feasible adaptations may include appropriate spatial planning and insurance schemes for small-scale farms. These, however, are more short-term coping mechanisms rather than adaptation measures. Possible adaption or coping measures include: (i) reducing exposure of inland fishing to overfishing; (ii) encouraging exploration of hidden or unexploited species; (iii) and better planning and management practices that include biosecurity.
To address climate adaptation strategically, climate impact and vulnerability assessments are necessary, while fishing practices need to be integrated within water management strategies, taking an entire farming system perspective (e.g. rice-fish, rice-shrimp). Vulnerability assessment and adaptation plans for aquaculture and inland fisheries must be tailored depending on local and national scale. Also critical is the integration of the combined effects of multiple stresses on species, habitats and communities.
FAO-IPCC Expert meeting on climate change, land use and food security