Experts for capacity building to face climate challenges in aquaculture

Fisheries experts at a workshop in the city stressed Sunday the need for building institutional capacity to address the growing challenges of the country's aquaculture sector induced by climate change, reports UNB.

They said the increased incidences of extreme climate events like flood, drought and storm will affect the safety and efficiency of fishing operations in the future and increase damages to coastal and riparian homes, services and infrastructure affecting the aquaculture sector.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister Muhammed Sayedul Hoque inaugurated the workshop.

The Department of Fisheries (DoF) with technical and financial support from Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and FAO organised the inception workshop on the formulation of 'Community-based Climate Resilient Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in Bangladesh' at BARC auditorium in the city.

DoF director general Syed Arif Azad, FAO experts Dr Soto and H Gonzalez, ERD additional secretary M Ashadul Islam and professor of the Fisheries Management Department at Bangladesh Agriculture University Dr Abdul Wahab, among others, spoke at the seminar.

The speakers said the sea level rise, melting of glaciers in upper areas of major rivers and other large-scale environmental changes will have unpredictable impacts on coastal and wetland environments and livelihoods.

The complex links between climate change, fisheries and other sectors will have indirect effects while fisheries are being affected by changing water demands from agriculture, they said.

FAO expert Dr Soto said rapid assessment should be carried out focusing on specific target areas of fisheries sector to understand the role of different institutions, relevant organisations, including women's organisations and other stakeholders at national and local levels.