Marine scientists have issued a stark warning about the escalating threat posed by climate change to India’s fisheries and aquaculture, emphasizing a significant increase in the frequency and intensity of harmful algal blooms (HAB) in the Arabian Sea. Experts highlighted a three-fold surge in HAB occurrences between 2000 and 2020 during the One Health Aquaculture India workshop organized by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) of the UK government and the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
HABs, a major contributor to aquatic food-borne health risks and fish mortality, are particularly detrimental to mariculture activities and fisheries at large. Dr. Grinson George, Senior Programme Specialist of the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), stressed the importance of issuing early advisories to aid in relocating fish or planning early harvests in mariculture. The adverse effects of intensified HAB instances were highlighted, with a direct impact on cage fish farming leading to fish mortality.
Addressing the workshop, Dr. George also noted a rise in aquaculture-related health issues and water-borne diseases among the farming community, exacerbated by extreme weather events like floods, tropical cyclones, and changing coastlines. Additionally, the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to global health systems was underlined by the experts. They emphasized that aquatic food systems and value chains contribute to AMR risks, necessitating the adoption of safe aquatic health management practices to mitigate the menace.
Dr. David Verner-Jeffreys, Principal Scientist at CEFAS, UK, presented examples from various countries showcasing the role of communities in combating antimicrobial resistance. The workshop served as a platform to underscore the urgent need for proactive measures to address the complex challenges posed by climate change, harmful algal blooms, and antimicrobial resistance to safeguard India’s fisheries and aquaculture industry.
