Climate Change Could Cut Maldives Fish Catch by 75% by 2100, Study Warns

A new study warns that fish catches from the Maldives' seas could fall by 75 percent by the end of this century due to global climate change. The findings were presented to a joint meeting of the People's Majlis Economic Committee and Environment Committee by the Maldives Resilient Reefs Association. The association said that as sea temperatures rise, fish species found in Maldivian waters are expected to migrate to cooler areas of the Indian Ocean. Fishermen's experiences and concerns from various regions were included in a document submitted to the committee. One fisherman quoted in the document said: "I know that I am catching fish using traps near my house, on the side of the village, or on the reef facing the shore. We used to catch fish so close to here. But now, we have to go 70 miles, 80 miles away to do fishing." The association highlighted that due to reef destruction and navigation difficulties, fishermen are forced to travel long distances between atolls at high cost. The shift from near-shore reefs to distant open-sea fishing reduces fishing time and creates significant hardships. In response to a question from Ibrahim Nazil, MP for Hithadhoo South, about whether Maldivians should adopt large-scale open-sea net fishing, the association said international experience shows this approach has failed. Amina Shah Haashim, Executive Director of Maldives Resilient Reefs, stated: "Traditional fisheries in other countries in the world were later commercialized, and in many places, it was a complete failure. Fish stocks dropped to an extremely low level." She warned that large nets would harm ordinary Maldivian fishermen and damage the country's sustainable fishing brand and its international value. She proposed protecting 30 percent of the Maldives' marine area to enhance natural resilience. The association also noted that the northern tuna fishing industry has come to a complete halt, and rising fuel and operational costs are stagnating the industry amid declining catches. Official statistics show that fish purchases by companies in the first six months of this year fell by 60 percent, the first such decline in 26 years.