Title : Climate change & fisheries management: A case studies from the sultanate of Oman
Abstract:
The impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems and dependent fisheries are becoming increasingly evident. However, incorporating climate science into management and policy processes continues to be challenging. Many of the fisheries management policies and approaches do not currently incorporate climate-adaptive measures. The study aims to identify the impacts of climate variabilities on the coastal marine fisheries of the Sultanate of Oman. We use the fisheries data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources and the climate variables data will be collected from NOAA PSL and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua (EOS PM) satellites. The study was evaluated the relationship between climate variabilities (sea surface temperatures, Western Indian Ocean dipole) and fish landing. The other studies founds that, there has been a major change in the Arabian Gulf, Oman Gulf and Arabian Sea due to climate changes and in the Arabian Gulf, there is a positive trend in monthly time series in the sea surface temperatures (SST), with 0.7 ?C/decade increase. In the Arabian Sea, there is also a noticeable increase in the SST, and a strong intensification of the Oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) in the region, which is already, considered one of the largest OMZ worldwide. The SST in seasonal and regional influences the small pelagic fish catch of the Sultanate of Oman. The small pelagic such as, Indian Oil Sardine (r=0.46, p=0.006), Indian Mackerel (r=0.52, p=0.0018) and Anchovy (r=0.56, p=0.0004) fish landing is significantly correlated with the Western Indian Ocean Dipole (WIOD). Climate assessments by international and national organizations have raised the issue of the need for evaluating current fishery management plans for climate change adaptation. A good climate- resilient fishery management is the one following an effective management system, developing participatory systems for the small pelagic fisheries management.
Audience take-away:
- Learn about the correlation between climate variables and fish landing, focusing on small pelagic species such as Indian Oil Sardine, Indian Mackerel, and Anchovy.
- Policymakers can use this information to evaluate and adapt current management plans, fostering effective and participatory systems for small pelagic fisheries.
- Provide a valuable resource for other faculty members interested in expanding their research or teaching materials related to climate change's impact on fisheries.
- Offer insights for policymakers to evaluate and adapt current fishery management plans, aligning with international and national climate assessments.
- Propose a model for effective management systems and participatory approaches, serving as a practical solution for small pelagic fisheries management.
- Improve the accuracy of fisheries design by providing data on the correlation between climate variables and fish landing, aiding in resource planning and decision-making.
- Contribute to global discussions on the need for climate-resilient fishery management, addressing a critical issue in the face of climate change.
- Enhance the understanding of regional climate impacts on fisheries, fostering a broader awareness of the interconnectedness between climate science and resource management.
