Fishing for Solutions - Margolin & Getz

Fishing for Solutions is a podcast exploring West African fishing practices and climate change. It discusses the importance of fishing in West Africa and the impact of climate change on coastal communities. The podcast features an interview with an expert on sustainable practices and marine ecosystems. Fishing is vital for the region's economy and food security, but overfishing and climate change have led to declining catches. Climate change also affects fish migration patterns and causes extreme weather events that damage fishing infrastructure. The pollution of plastic in the waters further harms fishing communities, impacting their income and food security. Welcome to Fishing for Solutions, West African Fishing Practices and Climate Change. In this immersive journey, we'll embark on a voyage through time and tides, tracing the intricate tapestry of West Africa's coastal communities from the early 1900s to present day. Join us as we unveil a world where the echoes of old traditions harmonizes the rhythms of modern sustainability and where the sea sustains lives and cultures and economies. We're your hosts, Ellie Margolin and Millie Goetz, and together we'll uncover Africa's coastal regions, exploring the importance of fishing in West Africa, and unraveling the profound role that fish play in shaping local diets, societies, and economies. But amidst the tales of the sea, a crucial factor looms at large, climate change. Its impact is not just a subplot. It's the rising tide that touches every aspect of these communities. Our journey begins with a panoramic view of the overarching influence of climate change on these coastal lands. However, the consequences of climate change are stark. Poor fishing practices and pollution threaten some of the world's most crucial ocean habitats. Our journey does not just uncover challenges, but it unveils resilience. In this podcast, we will explore an interview with Rashid Soumala, a professor of ocean and fisheries economics at the University of British Columbia. During this interview, he shares his wisdom, commentary on sustainable practices, and suggests how to navigate the delicate balance of preserving marine ecosystems. He specializes in bioeconomics, marine ecosystem valuation, and the analysis of global issues such as fisheries subsidies. Soumala's work on international fisheries subsidies has been influential in the World Trade Organization negotiations concerning subsidies and countervailing measures. So, with this being said, we invite you, listeners, to dive in with us into the deep blue world of West Africa's coastal communities, where ancient traditions are reimagined in the face of climate change, and where the sea is a lifeline for cultures, economies, and lives. From the early 1900s to the present day, we'll embark on an adventure that explores the essence of these communities. Here, we'll uncover the heart of coastal West Africa, the oceans embrace sustained generations, and a delicate balance is preserved amidst environmental challenges. In this podcast, we'll explore how fishing practices have been significantly affected since the start of the early 1900s by climate change, and environmental related factors, such as overfishing. But based on recent data and analysis, African fishing communities remain resilient and determined to overcome all odds in the face of adversity. Come aboard. The ocean secrets await. To begin, it's important to understand the general background information and context for this topic. The natural environment influences human behavior, and at the same time, human activities modify the natural environment. The two are interwoven and change over time. In Africa specifically, the long-term history of the natural environment and the variations in climate over the millennia have had a bearing on the evolution of humanity. The environment plays a crucial role in the lives of African coastal communities, influencing their livelihoods, cultural practices, and overall well-being. Many coastal communities in Africa rely heavily on fishing and agriculture for their livelihoods. The coastal environment provides a source of income and sustenance through fishing activities, as well as fertile land for agriculture in coastal areas. In addition, the coastal environment is rich in marine resources, such as fish, shellfish, and seaweed, which form a significant part of the diet for coastal communities. The environment is often deeply intertwined with the cultural and social identity of coastal communities. Cultural practices, rituals, and customs are often linked to the natural elements of the coastal environment, such as the sea, rivers, and specific types of flora and fauna. So now that we are a little bit more familiar with the context for this podcast, Ellie, how important is fishing to the world, and specifically to West Africa? Thanks for getting us started, Millie. So almost half of the world's population's livelihood depends on the ocean, which is a really big number to think about. Marine fishery resources are an important component of natural resources and one of the most important sources of human food, providing about 40% of the protein for two-thirds of the world's population. Marine fishing is one of the main economic activities of West Africa's countries. The main fishery-producing countries in West Africa are Senegal, Mauritania, Nigeria, Ghana, and Guinea, with diverse types of fisheries and catches of small fish. These natural geographical conditions make Africa rich in marine fishery resources, and the fisheries of the entire continent are also dominated by marine fishing. Fisheries play a key role in the economies and people's lives of most African countries. However, catches in West Africa have been declining since the start of the 1900s. This has been attributed to influencing factors such as overfishing, overcapacity, environmental change, habitat degradation, and unequal fishing agreements. Therefore, studying the current status of exploitation of marine fishery resources in Africa is of great importance for the future of fisheries and economic development of African countries. According to the UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 14, biodiversity loss is one of the current marine issues that are to be taken care of. Since the 1950s, marine fishery resources have gradually transitioned from an under-fished state to an over-fished state. By the 1970s and 1980s, the major traditional fishery resources have began to decline. Fishing not only reduces populations of target species, but also alters the structure of ecosystems. Millie has given us a great segue into the next part of our podcast, where we will be discussing the impact of climate change on ocean and marine life. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 14 calls for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. The increasingly adverse impacts of climate change, overfishing, and marine pollution are jeopardizing recent gains in protecting portions of the world's oceans. Climate variability in the short term continues to influence human experience in Africa, and climate change may do so in the future. It has had significant and multifaceted impacts on African coastal communities and their fishing practices. One of the major effects has been the change in ocean temperature, which is affecting the shifts in fish migration patterns. The warming of the ocean can lead to changes in the distribution and migration patterns of fish species. This, in turn, affects the availability of certain fish species in traditional fishing grounds, impacting the livelihoods of fishing communities. Adding on to what Ellia said, extreme weather events have also become more prominent. Climate change contributes to the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as storms, hurricanes, and cyclones. These events can damage fishing infrastructure, boats, and gear, leading to economic losses for fishing communities. Due to an economic loss for fishing communities, there is an additional loss of livelihood, as members of these communities will have trouble sustaining their lifestyles, whether it is a loss of income or forcing members to migrate away from their current homes. The impacts of climate change on coastal communities reach beyond just an environmental sustainability standpoint, but also social sustainability. Climate change is expected to cause further changes to fisheries in West Africa. Generally, climate change affects the physical and biogeochemical properties of the ocean, including ocean temperature, pH, oxygen content, and regional wind patterns. This leads to circulation and upwelling intensity. In West Africa, sea surface temperature increased by 0.52, 0.46, and 0.24 degrees Celsius from 1982 to 2006. These changes affect ocean primary productivity, ecophysiology, and ecology of marine organisms, leading to shifts in species distribution, genealogy, species assemblage, ecosystem functions, and trophic interactions. The species composition of catch has also changed according to water temperature. With increased dominance of warmer water species as temperature increases, warming and changes in oxygen content will potentially lead to an average decrease in the maximum body size of exploited fish stocked, by 14% to 24% by 2050, relative to 2000. These changes will challenge the sustainability of fisheries and their management in West Africa. An important change that we mentioned earlier is the pollution that is taking over the waters and directly harming the fishing communities. Large amounts of plastic and trash have been pulled up in fishing nets with very few fish included. This plastic pollution is damaging the catch and leaving market women and families with no fish to sell and no food to feed their families. This prevents many families from making money, being able to eat, and even hindering children's ability to go to school, as they must work with their families to find fish. The economic impact on the fishing industry of West Africa has become more and more evident in recent years. Changes in fish distribution and abundance can result in reduced catch for fishing communities, impacting their income and food security. Unpredictable weather patterns can also disrupt fishing seasons and lead to economic losses. Fishing communities are suggested to be highly vulnerable to climate change, partly because of their high dependence on fish for their livelihoods and food security, and the limited societal capacity for their national economies to deal with the climate change impacts. Community health is also an important factor to take into account when considering the social, financial, and economic implications of the fishing industry. Reduced fish catch and changes in the availability of marine resources can affect the food security and nutritional status of coastal communities, which often rely heavily on fish as a primary source of protein. This issue can be especially dangerous for younger members of these coastal communities, as well as pregnant mothers, which affects the overall population of Western African regions. In response to these challenges introduced by the implications of the fishing industry, there is an increasing recognition of the need for adaptive strategies, sustainable fisheries management, and international cooperation to address the impacts of climate change on African coastal communities and fishing practices. These efforts aim to enhance the resilience of communities and promote the sustainable use of marine resources in the face of ongoing environmental challenges. Fishers in West Africa have already been affected by the impacts of climate change, and they have been adopting certain strategies to adapt to these changes. Millie, can you tell us about some of the response mechanisms that have been taken to cope with the issues we have outlined so far in the podcast? Absolutely. Fishers have been able to adapt by following a rational approach that maximizes catch output while maintaining the traditional elements of their fishing activity, such as the type of boat used, the market they target, and the species that they catch. Adaptive capacity may increase by putting an emphasis on the monitoring of the impacts of climate change on social and economic indicators, and the use of new management and policy approaches to strengthen the livelihood asset base. This can be achieved in part by understanding the existing response mechanisms, analyzing and grasping new opportunities brought by climate change, and adoption of multi-sector adaptive strategies to minimize negative impacts of climate change. Fisheries monitoring strategies will potentially allow for a better understanding of past and current trends, and state of the ecosystem, and ultimately increase in climate resilience through habitat protection and judicious capital investment in better monitoring. We wanted to take a look at a primary source interview to further underscore the importance of the ocean and marine life to humanity's survival. Rashid Sumailem, the 2023 Tyler Prize Laureate, emphasizes the critical importance of the ocean, highlighting its role in providing oxygen, moderating temperatures, and absorbing carbon dioxide to mitigate climate change impacts. He discusses the adverse effects of overfishing on subsistence fishing communities, leading to social and economic consequences, such as forced migration. He specifically discusses what is occurring in West Africa. He explains that there's evidence of more environmental refugees, people who don't have the resources they used to depend on, who are leaving their home countries where the temperature gets too high. They move and follow the cold water. Sumailem proposes a global ban on fishing in the high seas, stressing the need for coordinated international efforts to address this issue. He introduces the concept of infinity fish, emphasizing the renewable nature of fish resources, if managed sustainably. He acknowledges the challenges in implementing a ban on fishing in the high seas due to the economic interests of a few powerful countries. He underscores the urgency of collective action, encouraging individuals to be conscious consumers, support sustainable initiatives, and advocate for responsible policies. Going off what Millie said, the concept of infinity fish basically explains that fish are renewable resources. If we manage them well and use them wisely, they can continue to deliver fish to us for food, income, jobs, and forever. However, despite the challenges, Sumailem remains hopeful for the future of the oceans, drawing inspiration from historical improvements in civil and gender rights, and invoking the spirit of optimism embodied by figures like Nelson Mandela. In summary, West African fisheries have been significantly impacted by the forces of climate change, pollution, and overfishing since the early 1900s. Coastal communities have been suffering immensely as fish are a source of income and sustenance. However, based on data and information gathered by scientists and experts such as Rashid Sumailem, there is hope for West African fisheries if they are managed sustainably and if everyone makes a deliberate effort to follow the proposed policies. Thanks so much, Ellie. Now we're going to answer some questions directly from our listeners tuning in all around the world. Our first question is from Surfer123, who's asked, what are some solutions that will battle the impacts that climate change is having on these fishing communities? That's a great question. Many solutions could be explored to combat these effects of climate change, such as creating and enforcing more laws surrounding overfishing as well as pollution. These are two big issues that can be combated in the most simple ways by adding additional surveillance and by educating people on these problems. Our next question comes from Shelly S., and she is wondering, in your opinion, what are the two biggest threats that climate change poses on West African fisheries? Yeah, so we believe that one of the largest threats is the way climate change is changing the fish migration patterns. This issue leads to the second biggest threat, which is the way climate change is affecting community members socially. Through climate change, coastal communities are seeing a loss in nutrients and overall quality of life leading to migration. So our final question that we will be answering from the audience is asked by Pearl1. She's asking, how does this issue affect the greater world outside of these local communities? This issue definitely affects the greater world economically, sustainably, and socially. Through the effects of climate change on these African communities, the world will end seeing a loss of global trade, which can affect the economy greatly outside of just Africa. Additionally, there will be a lack of biodiversity, which can damage the food chain and therefore affects every species of animal and possesses threats to the environment. And lastly, socially, this issue can lead to increased migration as well as food shortages, which affects everyone on Earth socially. Thanks a lot for tuning in to Fishing for Solutions. We're glad to have been able to tell you a little bit about West African fishing practices and the impact of climate change on local communities. We hope that you are now aware that despite facing immense challenges, these fishing communities showcase the resilience of human connection with the environment and the ongoing effort to preserve a delicate balance. We hope to see these West African fishing communities end the battle with climate change through new laws and practices that lead to a healthier planet. These communities have suffered economically, socially, and nutritiously and will continue to suffer unless changes are made. However, the future is promising as scientists, marine experts, and policy makers are working hard to find solutions. Thank you so much for joining us. It has been so fun talking to all of you guys, and thank you so much for your questions. We hope we answered your inquiries and that you learned a little bit more about the effects of climate change on West African fishing communities. Bye, everyone.