A changing climate and its consequences: perspectives on industry response

Our climate is changing, with the world steadily warming. The seafood industry is adapting to impacts like warmer waters and changing weather patterns while working to mitigate future effects.

Our Head of Horizon Scanning, Dr Angus Garrett, describes what the seafood industry might expect from a changing climate and how it can adapt:

“There’s a lot of uncertainty with climate change – different views and projections of what might happen. The historical pathway for a changing climate is largely uncontested - the world is undoubtedly warming. However, future pathways - how warm the world will get – are by no means settled.  A changing climate may bring changes in sea levels, in storms and waves, air and water temperature, ocean acidification and terrestrial rainfall. 

"These changes can have a ‘multiplier effect’ on physical challenges industry already faces across seafood supply chains. We can anticipate changing availability of fish (species moving in/out of areas), challenges to safety at sea, disruption of ports, processing, logistics, and wider effects on local communities.  With climate change on everyone’s radar, there are also potential impacts arising from our own behaviours: how governments act, how the market behaves, how seafood buyers make choices for example. 

"There is a danger that the path ahead is seen only as threatening, with opportunities overlooked. Seafood is an important part of the food system – a fact that often gets missed by some. Not only is seafood nutritious, it has a relatively low carbon footprint – making it a smart choice for people and the planet. As the UN FAO have stated ‘the ocean is not an aquarium’: in the face of a changing climate we should work with nature, acting responsibly and being prepared for the threats but also the opportunities that brings.” 

Every sector within the seafood industry will have its different challenges, we’ve spoken to two representatives from different areas about their experiences. 

We asked Elena Balestri from Scottish Fishermen’s Federation for her views as a representative of the catching sector:

1. What would you say is the key impact for your sector over the next five years?  

Considering the seas we are fishing in, the most likely scenario is that we will witness some shift in the distribution of species which have a narrow range of preference for water temperature conditions. This could be both a problem and an opportunity, depending on how fast the science will manage to pick that up and how agile the management will be to adapt. We will soon witness species leaving our common fishing grounds with some others coming in. The questions are: will we be allowed to fish them? Would the markets be receptive to these new species? Increase in storminess will of course create challenges for an already dangerous job possibly reducing the number of days that the fleet will be able to be at sea.  

2. What barriers might the sector face in responding and adapting to these potential impacts?  

The biggest barrier will be to recognise the signs of a changing environment and follow up on those changes by adapting the management around fishing. We are already seeing problems stemming out of the limits of the science to recognise the role of environmental changes in stock abundance with the severe consequence of overplaying the fisheries management option, as reduction of fishing mortality becomes the only variable to be somehow controllable.  

The other big problem in our seas is that climate change is showing in a subtle way, as there are not easily detectable, discrete and catastrophic changes like in other parts of the world. Being so subtle changes are, by nature, less prone to be picked up and actioned upon. The problem underpinning this, is that we might find ourselves on a tipping point without realising it.  

3. What critical action needs to be taken by the sector?  

Unfortunately, the sector has no direct power to influence these changes. We keep renewing our willingness to be the first watchers at sea and help with the science as much as we can, but it needs to be clear that fishing is extremely tightly regulated so adaptation to change needs to be led and catalysed by the authorities.  

We asked Martyn Boyers from Grimsby Fish Market, a representative for the ports sector, to share his thoughts: 

1. What would you say is the key impact for your sector over the next five years?  

I do not think there is a single key matter that impacts the Port sector. The domino effect of carbon reduction, climate change and associated costs that creates the challenges. One will inevitably lead to another. Practically, there are a multitude of different types of Port operations located in different places that have varied challenges.  

If I had to pick one challenge, it will be the continuity and viability of the supply of fresh fish during acknowledgement of climate change. A challenge because seafood supply is constantly scrutinised from sustainability, science and environmental positions, whilst subjected to international and political opinion. 

2. What barriers might the sector face in responding and adapting to these potential impacts?  

The barriers for the sector are varied in line with each individual Port. However, Ports are sat between the catchers and the processors and require throughput and activity from both. The biggest barrier to us is that we are takers of change, either in operational facilities and services, national or international quotas allocations or government interventions, not makers of change.  

3. What critical action needs to be taken by the sector?  

The critical action is to stay calm and work together within the seafood sector. There is no quick fix but we have to do the best we can in reducing our carbon emissions.  

For further information, go to our Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation page by clicking the link below:

If you have any queries about our climate change adaptation work please contact Dr Angus Garrett.