Climate Change Impacts on Fishing in Coastal Rural of Tanzania

Abstract

Millions of people around the world depend on fisheries and aquaculture directly or indirectly for their food security, livelihoods and poverty reduction. However, ocean’s ability to meet their needs is in grave danger. Fish is a crucial source of livelihood for fishermen in the coastal rural regions of Tanzania but climate change has caused a major threat to the same. As ocean temperatures rise, many fish species are being driven into deeper waters or toward the planet's poles. The shifting conditions, meanwhile, are inviting historically anomalous breeds into new ranges with unpredictable results. The precise degree to which these phenomena are contributing to Tanzania's current plight is difficult to quantify but ample evidence suggests such changes are already affecting fisheries across the country. Climate-related impacts are occurring across regions of Tanzania and primary sectors of its economy are more vulnerable.

Keywords: Climatic Change, Fishing, Climatic Change Adaption, Tanzania.