Short-term consultancy for the Study national climate actions for the marine fisheries sector in African Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
Type of contract: Short-term consultancy
Eligibility: Individual consultant(s) or consulting firm
Estimated effort: 80-90 days
Duration: 7-8 months Start/
Finish Dates: October 2024 – May 2025
Background
The importance of marine fisheries for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is both amplified and threatened by the climate crisis. For example, there is a greater understanding of how healthy marine biodiversity absorbs and stores carbon, which is diminished when fishing depletes fish and marine mammal populations, as well as destroys ocean habitats, such as coral reefs. As a consequence, more and more countries recognise the importance of sustaining or improving marine ecosystems for climate mitigation, as communicated in their national action plans and their blue economy strategies.
Nevertheless, the negative effects of climate change – already disrupting the physics, chemistry and ecology of the ocean – will present numerous dire consequences for the future of the fisheries sector, resulting in an urgent need for measures to adapt. This includes, inter alia, that warmer temperatures and acidification will influence the abundance, migratory patterns and mortality rates of wild fish stocks, with unpredictable consequences for fish catches, food security and government revenues and livelihoods. Also, climate disasters, such as hurricanes, storms, droughts, and extreme heat events, will cause major disruptions in local fishing industries (e.g. destruction of landing sites and fish processing facilities), with coastal fisheries being among the most vulnerable to these risks.
