Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akhter today said climate change is already impacting the country’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors, posing a serious threat to livelihoods.

“The CRVA report highlights these risks and provides essential data to guide our adaptation efforts. We must ensure that local communities, particularly women, are actively involved in developing solutions to these challenges,” he said during a workshop at a city hotel.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized a national dissemination workshop to unveil the results of the Climate Change Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA), highlighting the he critical impact of climate change on the country’s vital fishing and aquaculture sector.

The workshop presented the Comprehensive Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA), which provides detailed recommendations for strengthening climate resilience within the fisheries sector, particularly for women and marginalized communities who are affected disproportionately affected by environmental change, says an FAO press release.

Jiaoqun Shi, FAO Representative in Bangladesh, and Sayeed Mahmood Belal Haider, Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock; also spoke at the workshop under the chairmanship of Director General, Ministry of Fisheries, Md. Zillur Rahman.

Speaking at the workshop, Jiaoqun Shi said Bangladesh’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors face increasing risks from climate change, which threaten the livelihoods of millions of people.

The FAO team today shared the findings of the CRVA report, which provides essential information on these risks, particularly for vulnerable communities, he said.

The FAO representative said his organization will continue to support the Government of Bangladesh in implementing the mentioned recommendations, protecting fisheries and empowering women and marginalized groups to have a better life, without leaving anyone behind. side.

Fisheries and aquaculture are an integral part of Bangladesh’s economy, contributing 2.53% to the national GDP and 22.26% to the agricultural GDP. This vital sector supports more than 12% of the country’s approximately 170 million people, while also accounting for around 0.80% of national export earnings and providing around 60% of the total daily animal protein intake.

However, climate change poses a significant threat to this essential industry, requiring immediate action and resilience-building efforts.

Recent results from the Climate Change Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) reveal the alarming impacts of climate change on the fisheries and aquaculture sector. The assessment highlights disproportionate impacts on male and female fishermen, highlighting the urgent need for targeted adaptation strategies. The initiative is part of the community-based development of climate-resilient fisheries and aquaculture in Bangladesh, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The Government of Bangladesh, in collaboration with FAO, is taking crucial steps to make it easier for vulnerable fishing communities to combat the impacts of climate change by developing their skills and capacities by introducing resilient fishing and aquaculture technologies to the climate.

The recommendations focus on the “best four” – better production, better nutrition, better environment and better lives – ensuring sustainable growth and climate resilience in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. In the future, these results will be shared with policymakers and stakeholders to develop concrete action plans, ensuring that the sector adapts effectively to the challenges posed by climate change.