Peru, the world’s largest fishmeal producer, is facing difficulty due to the risk of fisheries collapsing. Developing nations such as Senegal that depend on fish for both food and jobs is at risk due to overfishing. Nations like these are facing economic hardship as climate change threatens fishing grounds. About 33 countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia are “highly vulnerable” to rising ocean temperatures, changes in river flows and less precipitation.
Allison Perry of the World Fish Center has co-written a study that looked at the economic risks to fisheries in countries affected by changing weather. She said that the world’s poorest countries are less able to adapt to these changes because they lack the financial resources to replace a food source and an industry that contributes more to economic activity than in wealthier nations.
According to Perry many of these countries are simply not in a position to adapt and implement measures. It is found that Peru exports mainly to China, Spain and the U.S. The South American nation boosted fishing exports last year by 23 percent to a record $2.4 billion, including $1.4 billion in fishmeal. Fishing is Peru’s fourth-biggest export earner after mining, oil and gas with about 145,000 people out of a population of 28 million making a living off the industry, government data shows.
Perry explained that Senegal, a country with a per capita gross domestic product of about $1,000, relies on its fishery for a fifth of its exports. She added that at the same time, fish provides 43 percent of the animal protein for the average Senegalese.
