Climate Change Impact On Marine Ecosystems Environmental Sciences Essay

Climate Change restore On Marine Ecosystems Environmental Sciences EssayINTRODUCTION-Extended bounds of summers or winters, unusual rains, extreme droughts or floods and more more natural calamities that human started experiencing is depicting one phenomenon Climate Change. Climate of any region refers to averaged weather over a period of 30 days or more and climate pitch refers to a signifi gouget and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns, over a period ranging from decades to million. According to IPCC, climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer, this could be naturally or can be caused by the anthropogenic agents. However United Nations Framework chemical formula on Climate Change (UNFCCC) considers only those changes which be in bring inition to the natural climate varia bility observed over comparable time periods and are attributed directly or corroboratoryly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere. in spite of appearance the past 100 years global temperature has increased approximately 0.6 C, and is project to find by 2 to 4 C by the end of this century (IPCC 2007). This increase in earth surface temperature cause glaciers shrinkage, melting of ice, ocean level rise, changes of large ocean currents, shifts in the rainfall, evaporation and runoff pattern and thus affecting regional weather system and considerably influencing human and new(prenominal) life forms. Carbon dioxide is considered to be the main causative force attributing to climate change along with other greenhouse gases like methane, nitrogen oxide etc., which induces the warming of earth surface.Climate change is the biggest global challenge before mankind and fisheries is one of the sector which seems to be under imminent threat as alteration in water flow, fluctuation in water temperature and alteration in water quality influences the metabolic rate which regulates the important activities like feeding, digestion, growth rate, maturation, breeding and selection of fish. According to Natural Resource Defence Council (NRDC) global warming lead to disappearance of Salmon and Trout as much as 18 to 38 per cent of their habitat by the year 2090. And India having a vast coast line (8129 kms) is elevatedly open to effects brought about by climate change and the rise in sea level can cause an ecological chance (UNEP, 1989). This articles deal with enlisting some of the major impacts climate change lead put up on marine fisheries. encounter on physical environmentsAs the temperature is increasing, the oceans are warming, but with geographical differences and some decadal variability. Global average sea level has been boost since 1961, but the rate has been accelerated since 1993. Higher frequency and intensity climate proce sses, such as El Nio-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and decadal-scale regime shifts, are judge to continue, with possible increases in their intensity or/and frequency in coming decades. Warming is more intense in surface water but is not exclusive to these, with the Atlantic showing particularly clear signs of deep warming. Changes in ocean salinity have been observed, with increasing in salinity in near-surface water in the more evaporative regions near to equator, and high latitudes showing decreasing salinity due to greater precipitation, higher runoff, melting ice and advection. The oceans are alike becoming more acidic, with believably ban consequences to many coral take down and calcium-bearing organisms. Although in that respect are no clearly apparent net changes in ocean upwelling patterns, there are indications that their seasonality may be affected. It is very likely that over the short term (within a few years), there will be negative impacts on the physiology o f fish in localities where temperature increases, through limiting oxygen transport. daze on biological functions and fish stocksAlthough large regional differences exist, especially at regional scales, most models predict a slight decrease in primary production in the seas and oceans and many models predict composition shifts to smaller phytoplankton which are likely to lead to changes in food webs in general. Changes in fish distributions in response to climate variations have been observed, generally consisting of pole guard expansions of warmer-water species and pole ward contractions of colder-water species. Changes are likely to affect pelagic species more rapidly than other species groups. Some examples of responses to climate change by different marine species are discernible in the Indian seas. (1) Until 1985, almost the entire elate of Oil sardine and Indian mackerel was from the Malabar upwelling zone and the catch was either very low or there was no catch from latitude s north of 14 N. In the last two decades, however, the catches from latitude 14 N to 20 N are increasing which shows an reference of distributional boundary and a positive correlation was found betwixt the catches and sea surface temperature (SST). (2) During 1970-2007, the catches of Catfish from southwest and southeast coasts decreased. On the other hand, the catches from the nor-west and northeast coasts increased during the akin period. It shows the strong negative correlation between catfish catch and SST along the two southern coasts and positive correlation between catch and SST along the northern coasts and hence a good example of shift in latitudinal distribution and abundance (3) During 1985-1989, only 2% of mackerel catch was from john trawlers, and the rest of the catch was contributed by pelagic gear such as drift gillnet where as in 2003-2010, 15% of mackerel catch is contributed by bottom trawlers along the Indian coast which shows a shift in the depth of occurren ce of mackerels. The Indian trawlers operate at a depth ranging from 20m to 80m by employing high opening trawlers. As the surface waters are besides warming up, it appears that the mackerel, being a tropical fish, has extended its vertical boundary to deeper waters. (4) data on the number of female spawners of threadfin breams Nemipterus japonicus and N. mesoprion collected every month off Chennai (south-east coast of India) from 1981 to 2010 indicated a trend in the shifting of spawning season from warmer (April September) to cooler months (October March) was discernible.Impact on fishers and fishermen communitiesOther than the direct impact of climate change on the present day human life, there are a lot of indirect impacts which adversely affects the fisher which are as varied as the climate change themselves. Impacts would be felt through changes in capture, production and grocerying costs, changes in sales prices, and possible increase in risks of damage or loss of root w ord, fishing tools and housing. Fishery-dependent communities may also face increased vulnerability in equipment casualty of slight stable livelihoods, decreases in availability or quality of fish for food, and safety risks due to fishing in harsher weather conditions and further from their landing sites. Within communities and households, existing gender issues related to differentiated access to resources and occupational change in markets, distribution and processing, where women currently play a significant role, may be heightened under conditions of stress and increased competition for resources and jobs stemming from climate change.Communities located in deltas, coral atolls and ice dominated coasts will also be particularly vulnerable to sea level rise and associated risks of flooding, saline intrusion and coastal erosion. Coastal communities and small island states without proper extreme weather holdation programmes, in terms of infrastructure design, early warning system s and knowledge of appropriate behaviour, will also be at high risk. Salination of the agricultural fields due to seawater intrusion is negatively impacting the agriculture field, however this leads to taking aquaculture as major adaptive measure and thus adaptive role as an alternative livelihood, compensating for income and some aspects of food supply.Impact on Coral reef ecosystemsRisks to coral reefs are not distributed equally. Three different time scales can be identified for climate change-related impacts to coral reef systemsyears increased temperature effects on coral bleachingdecades increasing acidification and dissolution of carbonate structures of reefsmultidecades weakening of structural integrity of reefs and increasing susceptibility to storms and erosion events.increase acidity (decreasing pH) is a significant and pervasive longer-term threat to coral reefs. potential drop for coral reef systems to adapt to these environmental stresses is uncertain symbiotic zooxan thellae may adapt to be more tolerant of high temperature whereas migration of corals to higher latitudes is unlikely. These declines in corals will have negative impacts on reef fish biodiversity along with the putting embrace on the integrity of the eco-system.Positive Impacts of climate changeSome of the positive impacts includesIncreased food conversion efficiencies growth rates due to warmer watersIncreased primary production would provide more food for filter-feeding invertebratesIncreased length of the growing season icon expansions to pole wards due to decrease in iceSea level rise also has the potential to flood coastal land areas, mangrove and sea grass regions which may supply ejaculate stock for aquaculture species.Shortened duration of larval cycles can also help in the availability of seeds.Potential adaptation measures in fisheriesA wide range of adaptations is possible, either carried out in anticipation of future effects or in response to impacts once they have occurred. In general, responses to direct impacts of extreme events on fisheries infrastructure and communities are likely to be more effective if they are anticipatory, as part of long-term compound steering planning. However, preparation should be coterminous with risk, as excessive protective measures could themselves have negative amicable and economical impacts.Examples of potential adaptation measures in fisheriesImpact of climate change on fisheriesPotential adaptation measures cut down yieldAccess higher value markets/ shifting targeted species.Increase effort or fishing power.Reduce costs to increase efficiency. transfigure livelihoods.Exit the fishery.Increased variability ofyield metamorphose livelihood.Design insurance schemes.Change in distributionof fisheriesMigration of fishing effort/strategies and processing/distribution facilities.Reduced profitabilityExit the fishery.Vulnerability ofinfrastructure andcommunities toflooding, sea level andsurgesAdd new or amen d physical defences.Managed retreat/accommodation.Rehabilitate infrastructure, design disaster response.Integrated coastal management.Set up early warning systems.Education.Increased dangers of fishingSet up weather warning system.Invest in improved vessel stability/safety/ communications.Influx of new fishersSupport existing local management institutions, diversify livelihoods.Potential adaptation measures in post-harvest, distribution and markets twain capture fisheries and aquaculture feed into diverse and spatially extensive networks of supply and trade that connect production with consumers, adding significant value and generating important levels of custom. To some extent, this system can be used to provide an important mediation and buffering function to increasing variability in supply and source location, but direct impacts will also affect its ability to do so. A range of issues and adaptation measures can be considered.Table Climate change-related impacts potential adapt ation in post-harvest/distributionImpact on post harvest, distribution/marketsPotential adaptation measuresReduced or more variable yields, supply timingSource products more widely, change species, add value, reduce lossesDevelop more flexible location strategies to access materialsImprove communications and distribution systemsReduce costs to increase efficiencyDiversify livelihoodsTemperature, precipitation, other effects on post- harvest processesChange or improve processes and technologiesImprove forecasting, informationVulnerability of infrastructure andcommunities to extreme eventsAdd new or improved physical defences, accommodation to changeRehabilitate infrastructure, design disaster responseSet up early warning systems, educationTrade and market shocksDiversify markets and productsProvide information services for anticipation of price or market shocksManagement and institutional adaptationsEcosystem approaches to fisheries (EAF) and to aquaculture (EAA) that embed precautio nary approach applications within integrated management (IM) across all sectors have the potential to increase ecosystem and community resilience and provide valuable frameworks for dealing with climate change. This would create flexible management systems and support decision-making under uncertainty.Where aquaculture could be used for adaptation in other sectors, planning would be required at appropriate system and management scales, such as watersheds, and estuaries. These approaches would serve to provide guidance in understanding and minimizing perverse incentives that lead to overcapacity, overfishing, excessive environmental impact and other harmful practices while, at the same time, defining positive incentives to meet sustainable development goals. Well defined sectoral performance criteria need to be set out to bring climate change threats, risks and potential adaptations within normal management practice. Public and private sector linkages and partnerships will be essenti al in developing efficient and effective responses. trade demands will be key mechanisms in supporting adaptation, and their impacts on equity among suppliers, intermediaries and consumers will need to be recognized and applied. Thus certification systems, including sustainability, organic, fair-trade and other criteria will need to be addressed more carefully in the context of climate change, and consider the potential for more vulnerable groups to take advantage of economic opportunity. Adaptation will need to contain strong mechanisms for equity, as increased competition may reduce access for poorer people and other vulnerable groups to production, employment and consumption.For the global issue of the climate change we can contribute through some of the goals which are given belowraising awareness of the impacts of climate change, to run into that the special risks to the fishery sector are understood and used to plan national climate change responses, including setting of ex tenuation targets through mechanisms such as the Kyoto Protocolreducing fuel subsidies granted to fishing fleets, to encourage energy efficiency and assist towards reducing overcapitalization in fisheriessupporting the use of static-gear pots, traps, longlines and gillnets, which uses less fuel than active gear such as trawls and seines and therefore emits less CO2restoring mangroves and protecting coral reefs, which will contribute to CO2 absorption, coastal protection, fisheries and livelihoodsmanaging aquaculture to optimize carbon retention, reduce energy use and minimize impacts on mangroves and other important habitats andRaising awareness through seafood campaigns, reducing food miles, and promoting corporate social responsibility in the commercial sector.promoting research on short- and medium-term climate change impacts to support the identification of vulnerability hot spots and the development of adaptation and mitigation strategies, including financing and risk reducti on mechanisms aimed at enabling integrated and broader national planningaddressing other issues contributing to vulnerability of the sectors communities, such as access to markets and services, political representation and improved governance andEngaging in long-term adaptation planning, including promotion of fisheries- and aquaculture related climate issues in Poverty Reduction Strategy document and National Adaptation Programs of Action, to address longer-term trends or potential large-scale shifts in resources or ecosystems.