The American Fisheries Society last week distributed a statement by 112 world aquatic scientific societies saying in part, "The world’s aquatic resources are now under their greatest threat in human history.  Human-caused climate change is accelerating the degradation of aquatic ecosystems and the services they provide."

The statement was included in a letter to John Kerry, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate in advance of the United Nations' Climate Change Conference in the United Kingdom.

"The American Fisheries Society (AFS) would like to make you aware of the global consensus of aquatic science societies on the effects of climate change on fisheries and other aquatic resources and the urgency of reducing carbon emissions to ensure the sustainability of this vital global food source, the loss of which could undermine international security and peace efforts.

"We also seek to underscore the importance of protecting the integrity of healthy aquatic ecosystems and restoring degraded systems in order to maintain their crucial storage of carbon as part of halting and eventually reversing the effects of climate change."

"Last fall, AFS and 111 other science societies representing 80,000 scientists across the world called for urgent action to reduce emissions to avoid catastrophic impacts to commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries, human health, and global economies.

"The statement that details the irreversible impacts to freshwater and marine ecosystems, fish, and fisheries from climate change that are projected to occur without swift and resolute action to curtail greenhouse gas emissions. We must act now to safeguard our drinking water, food supplies, and human health and well-being."

"Climate change is warming rivers, lakes, and streams and altering precipitation patterns throughout America, reducing habitat availability for fish, particularly for coldwater species. Climate change is also altering marine and coastal ecosystems with significant implications for wild capture fisheries and marine economies."

"Many of these changes are and will be irreversible. They will continue to worsen if we persist on our current trajectory with a mounting toll on vulnerable ecosystems, human societies, and local and global economies."

"As part of any climate solution, we must protect the integrity of our healthy aquatic ecosystems and work to restore degraded systems in order to maintain their crucial storage of carbon as part of halting and eventually reversing the effects of climate change. Land and water-based conservation solutions are critical to capture carbon and to make our rivers, lakes and streams, forests, grasslands, wetlands, and coastal systems more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

“To the extent possible, we must mitigate the impacts of climate change on fish and fisheries and plan for adaptation required to ensure the long-term health of freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems."

Click Here for a copy of the American Fisheries Society letter.

Click Here for the statement from the World Aquatic Scientific Societies.

Douglas J. Austen, Ph.D serves as Executive Director of the American Fisheries Society.  He was the former Executive Director of the PA Fish and Boat Commission.

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[Posted: October 1, 2021]

10/4/2021