BID representative, Walter Vergara stressed the importance of protecting the productive base of the fishing industry. (Photo: YouTube/ IDBYouth)

Huge investment to adapt fishing industry to climate change

PERU
Friday, August 10, 2012, 23:00 (GMT + 9)

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is considering to invest USD 10 million to co-finance the implementation of a project to adapt the fishing industry to climate change from 2013.

The head of the IDB Division of Climate Change and Sustainability, Walter Vergara, believes this initiative will contribute to obtaining scientific information about the change in the dynamics of fish productivity and to proposing effective measures to minimize the damage.

"It will be the first project on fishing adaptation in the world. It will be submitted to the IDB Adaptation Fund, which has already approved its concept," added Vergara.

He expressed that they expect to perform the project design in the coming months, the agency Andina reported.

IDB would provide grant funds and the Peruvian government would provide the same amount to complete the investment.

As part of this project three core activities will be perform:

• Obtaining scientific information, documentation of changes and modification of fishing patterns, according to the change in the relationships among marine species;
• Changing fishermen’s behaviour through awareness-raising;
• Identifying additional or alternative activities for fishermen given the possible losses resulting from climate change.

The IDB representative explained: "If the primary productivity is changing and we do not know this dynamic, we could destroy the productive base of the fishing industry. It is necessary to adjust quotas based on that information."

"It's a very important project for Peru, whose economy depends largely on the fishing industry that is subject to changes in primary productivity associated with the Humboldt Current," Vergara added.

The ministries of Environment (Minam) and of Production, Instituto del Mar del Peru (Imarpe) and communities that would be affected by climate change will participate in the implementation of this project.

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

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