Aquatic Food Systems: Easy game for perils of climate change

What is it about?

Owing to the drastic changes in the global climate, the sustainability and security of food systems are declining rapidly. From primary production to consumption, climate change is disrupting every stage of the food chain. The aquatic environment, a major resource of global animal food products, is extremely vulnerable to changes in climatic factors like change in wind condition, ocean temperature and current or water level, and salinity. Based on data-driven evidence and informed speculation, the authors of this chapter have sketched a comprehensive picture of the impact of climate change on aquatic organisms.

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Photo by Hiroko Yoshii on Unsplash

Photo by Hiroko Yoshii on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The authors clarified that one of the most prominent threats from climate change is the increased risk of foodborne and waterborne diseases caused by water pollution and the growth of harmful aquatic organisms. They also pointed out that in marine, freshwater, and inland fisheries, altered water conditions and changing levels of rainfall are reducing the productivity of many fish stocks. In aquatic ecology, changing climatic factors encourage the growth of certain species while suppressing others. Elevated growth of toxin-producing algae, known as harmful algal blooms (HABs), that pose a serious threat to other aquatic organisms and human health is a matter of concern. However, there is a scarcity of studies on the risks associated with HABs; the need to adopt a statistical approach to better understand and solve this problem has been discussed. KEY TAKEAWAY To mitigate the climate change-related threat while reinstating the sustainability and safety of aquatic food systems, global policy, and legal frameworks should work in tandem with the scientific endeavor.