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Life Below Water
Executive summary
As more countries commit to net-zero emissions and include ocean-based climate action in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) the energy transition of the fishing industry and its fleets is becoming a pressing issue. The fisheries sector is a contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions because of its heavy reliance on fossil fuels.
Climate change, fishing fleets and fishing ports
Climate change has a significant impact on the fisheries sector fishing fleets and fishing ports. It is causing rising sea levels warmer water temperatures ocean acidification and deoxygenation which affect fishing activities especially in LDCs and SIDS.
Acknowledgements
This publication was produced by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on the basis of a study coordinated by the UNCTAD Division on International Trade and Commodities in collaboration with the UNCTAD Division on Technology and Logistics.
Technological opportunities and challenges of alternative energy options for fishing fleets
The increasing demand for renewable and modern technology for both electricity and fuels present potential opportunities for developing countries. Among the top ten countries in renewable electricity output are China India and Brazil (IRENA 2023a). China is the global leader in renewable energy production especially solar panels wind turbines and batteries (IRENA 2019). According to a recent Patent Landscape Report of the World Intellectual Property Organization China was the top origin of patent filings related to hydrogen fuel cells in transportation (WIPO 2022). Africa’s abundant resources of sun wind and rare earths make the continent a major participant in renewable energy in the coming decades. Furthermore Africa can play a crucial role in the development of the hydrogen economy (UNCTAD 2023d). Latin America is an important player in the generation of hydroelectricity and Argentina Bolivia and Chile contain the largest reserves of lithium necessary for the energy transition.
Nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement as applied to fisheries
NDCs are central to achieving the Paris Agreement’s long-term goal of limiting global temperature rise this century to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. NDCs present best endeavour commitments of individual countries to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Contributions are voluntary and flexible in nature and subject to continuous improvement and monitoring through subsequent submissions and the global stocktake exercise (UNFCCC 2023).
Energy Transition of Fishing Fleets: Opportunities and Challenges for Developing Countries
The review of NDCs conducted in this study shows surprising results. It reveals that major aquatic food exporters i.e. India the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Norway show no commitments on ocean or fisheries-related matters. In contrast Canada Chile and the Russian Federation have committed to protecting ocean space and include climate mitigation and adaptation measures within marine protected areas. And despite being a part of the most polluting region in the world China and Viet Nam stand out for committing to implement measures for energy saving energy efficiency and emission reduction in fisheries as a means of mitigating GHG emissions. The review of regulations and agreements found little evidence of such measures being used in the fisheries sector.
Opportunities, challenges and considerations for the transition of fishing fleets
Overall a balanced approach is needed to encourage trade and investment in a suitable energy mix and in the incremental adoption and use of renewable and energy efficient technologies. This approach should support the sustainable development of fisheries and the seafood industry. It should also ensure that the renewable energy transition and decarbonization of fishing fleets provide equitable economic environmental and social benefits along the value chain and throughout the entire economy. The energy transition must also ensure that the costs and benefits of a world powered by renewable energy are fairly distributed.
Introduction
The fisheries sector is important for food security jobs and for the livelihoods of millions of people especially in developing countries. Fisheries are an important provider of animal protein macronutrients and micronutrients such as Omega 3 fatty acids and iodine that are difficult to find in other foods. Global capture fisheries generate 51 per cent of all fish and seafood produced today (versus 49 per cent from aquaculture) (FAO 2022a). Developing countries depended on fish for more than 11.7 per cent of consumed animal protein in 2017 while in some SIDS this figure exceeded 50 per cent (UNCTAD 2021a). The fisheries sector is also an important source of jobs and livelihoods with more than 40 million people working in fisheries and aquaculture in 2020 about 21 per cent of whom are women (FAO 2022a). By way of comparison there are 20 times more fishers than seafarers worldwide.
Prólogo
En marzo de 1992 los gobiernos se reunieron en Helsinki Finlandia con una visión en mente: gestionar las aguas compartidas en la región paneuropea de forma colaborativa y sostenible. Al término de esta reunión nació la Convención del Agua. Se trata tanto de un marco jurídico integral como de una plataforma intergubernamental sobre cómo gestionar mejor los cursos de agua compartidos. Echando la vista atrás fue un momento crucial.
La Convención del Agua respalda el desarrollo económico
Los distintos sectores económicos como la acuicultura la agricultura de regadío la minería la generación de energía la producción industrial el turismo basado en la naturaleza o el transporte por agua tienen requisitos específicos en cuanto a la cantidad y la calidad del agua y al calendario de sus necesidades de agua. Mejorar la gestión de las aguas transfronterizas puede permitir el suministro del volumen de agua necesario con la calidad adecuada en el momento oportuno y apoyar así el desarrollo de los sectores económicos.
La Convención del Agua: 30 años de impacto y de logros sobre el terreno
El 2022 es el año del 30 aniversario del Convenio sobre la Protección y Utilización de los Cursos de Agua Transfronterizos y de los Lagos Internacionales (Convenio del Agua) que se adoptó en Helsinki en 1992. Esta publicación que muestra las exitosas historias concretas del impacto del Convenio del Agua sobre el terreno es un importante recurso para ejemplificar los beneficios de la cooperación en materia de aguas transfronterizas. Las y los lectores comprenderán mejor el impacto social económico y ambiental del Convenio del Agua durante las últimas tres décadas así como sus beneficios para la paz y la seguridad en diferentes escenarios regionales.