In many coastal communities, fish mean jobs.
Along the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, a region where most people live below the international poverty line, fish have been one of the few dependable livelihoods for generations.
Now the fish are disappearing, leaving behind worry and questions about the future.
“These fishing families are poor to begin with. But surveys show that perceived quality of life declined between 2015 and 2019. Household hunger increased. Women’s dietary diversity decreased,” said Robert Paarlberg, Associate in the Sustainability Science Program at the Harvard Kennedy School, during a February 8 climate research workshop at the Salata Institute.
The data are stark. In Côte d’Ivoire, the coastal catch fell nearly 40 percent between 2003-2020. In Ghana, landings of small fish dropped 59 percent between 1993-2019. In Nigeria, where trends are believed similar, artisanal fishing supports the livelihoods of 24 million people. Projections to 2050 in the three countries suggest this century’s haul could continue to plunge another 50 percent.
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