Kogi fishermen deploy new strategies as climate change bites harder

As a fisherman in Kpata, Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State, Abdullahi Gimba depends on the resources of the River Niger to provide for his two wives and 13 children. It is how he has earned his income for the past 30 years; by taking to the waters for several hours every day.

But the waters are low and yield has become increasingly low in the last decade, forcing Mr Gimba to travel longer distances in search of fishes for a good catch. This is making his livelihood and that of other fishermen like him more difficult and unreliable.

“We don’t get as much fish as we used to in the past. We only get the most in the rainy season when the water levels are high and the water is deep but sometimes it [water levels] increases so much causing flooding, which is another problem we’ve faced almost every year since 2012,” Mr Gimba said. “It’s worse in the dry season because fishermen who don’t have enough money to buy mechanised boats have to paddle far into the waters for many hours before getting some catch,” he added.

In communities like Kpata, families are forced to either survive with less or come up with strategies to adapt to the changes they are experiencing.

Impacts of Climate change on Fishing

Considering Nigeria’s enormous water resources, artisanal fisheries is a major contributor to the nation’s economy and is reported to employ 8 million people like fishermen and retailers of fish gear equipment and another 18 million engaged in fish processing, distribution, and marketing.

Although the fisheries industry has greatly suffered from environmental impacts, illegal fishing and weak governance, climate change-driven crises have completely changed the game.

Declining fish stock has been attributed to the high CO2 emissions which drive global climate change The resultant inconsistent weather conditions may result in a 53 per cent reduction of fish resources in Nigeria by the year 2050, according to the World Bank. With fewer fishes to catch, you may not only miss your favorite seafood but also the livelihood of thousands of fishers is at risk.

This article originally appeared on Premium Times.

Photo: Pintrest