Warming seas, heatwaves and extreme weather events affecting livelihoods of millions of traditional fishers

Extreme weather and warming seas are threatening the lives and livelihoods of small-scale fishermen in the Bay of Bengal with the region facing a mounting climate emergency, according to a report presented at the regional meeting of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN in Chennai.

Highlighting the increasing number and frequency of cyclonic disturbances in the Bay of Bengal, the report revealed that climate-driven storms are cutting an average 10-15 fishing days annually, directly undermining fishers’ livelihood and food security.

The three-day regional meeting of Bay of Bengal rim countries is jointly organised by the FAO and the Bay of the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO).

BOBP Director Dr P Krishnan who presented the report ‘Disaster Risks and Climate Change in BoB Region’ at the Chennai meet said that marine fishing is severely hit by loss of fishing days, damage to properties and loss of life following the climate crisis. According to the report, marine heatwaves, projected to rise to 250 days annually by 2100, will devastate fish stocks and intensify extreme weather events.

“The same waters that sustained millions of livelihoods are now becoming more hostile and unpredictable,” said Dr P Krishnan.

Beyond fishing days, the climate risks also include rising seas, storm surges and saline intrusion, making coastal communities in the region among the most climate-vulnerable populations in South Asia. Poor access to insurance and low compliance with safety measures are deepening the trouble, leaving them exposed to fatal risks, he added.

Dr Krishnan also highlighted the need of fast-tracking the implementation of the BOBSAFE – a regional plan on fishermen safety and working condition developed by FAO and BOBP-IGO and endorsed by the Governing Council of the BOBP-IGO in 2023.

Case studies presented at the meet from across the region emphasised the need for restoring mangroves, building disaster resilient fishing villages, integrating climate-smart credit schemes, relocating erosion-prone fishing communities and community based early warning systems.

Experts called for regional collaboration, shared climate-risk data platforms, and stronger policy coherence under the UN’s Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (VG-SSF).

Senior officials from FAO and BOBP, policymakers, marine scientists and fisherfolk representatives from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives are attending the meeting, which concludes on Friday.