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Food & Beverage

Seafood industry

under threat

T

he seafood industry is under climate change and acidification.
the likely impacts while adapting

wherever that’s practically possible.”
threat from climate change and
Artisanal fishermen in the Tropics are
most at risk
Eliot Whittington of the University ocean acidification and global

• Changes in the distribution of of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability reduction of CO2 emissions is required
particular marine species may lead to Leadership said: “This briefing to safeguard its future – this according

conflict between fishing nations and highlights the business-critical to a new briefing which distils the key
significant increases in illegal fishing
implications of climate change for the findings from the recently released

fisheries sector, representing tens of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate • The impacts of climate change and
billions of dollars in future costs and Change Fifth Assessment Report, ocean acidification are generally

damages for the industry. Companies in revealing the growing threat of climate exacerbated by other factors like
this sector will have to take the change and acidification to marine pollution, habitat loss and over-fishing

implications of climate science into resources.
The briefing, and an associated
account as they plan for the future. We The briefing, published jointly by infographic, is being distributed across

hope that this briefing, developed with Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, the the seafood industry with a call for

experts from both business and science, University of Cambridge Institute for action to address this global threat
will help them do so.”
Sustainability Leadership and Judge Commenting on the report, Chris

Business School and supported by Brown, Senior Director, Sustainable The briefing cites areas where action
the European Climate Foundation, Business, Asda Walmart, said: "There can be taken to lessen the impact of

reveals that:
is a growing threat of climate change climate change:
• The total loss of landings to global and acidification to the marine • Adapt where possible – for instance,

fisheries by 2050 due to climate change resources upon which we rely. This some shellfish hatcheries in the north
range from $17 to $41 billion based on report is a timely reminder of the pace west USA have learned to avoid taking

a global warming scenario of 2˚C
of change in the oceans and the need in seawater during periods of high
for those of us with direct and indirect acidity
• Fishery yields will increase 30% –

stakes in the seafood industry to • Undertake vulnerability assessments 70% in high latitudes but fall by 40% –

promote action at every level."
of fisheries and aquaculture operations 60% in the Tropics and Antarctica
• Strengthen coastal zone based on 2˚C of warming. Large Blake Lee-Harwood of Sustainable

management to reduce land-sourced species like tuna in the Pacific and Fisheries Partnership added: “This
pollution, over-harvesting and physical Indian oceans are likely to move report is a wake-up call for the seafood

damage to resources
eastwards
industry to recognise the scale of the
• Create new habitats such as artificial threat to ocean resources from climate • Millions of people depend critically

reefs to act as fish nurseries in areas change and acidification. We need to on fish for their food and face reduced
where coral reef destruction occurs see urgent action in trying to mitigate
access to marine protein because of

I

28 The SHIP Supplier Issue 61 2014