SHORT COMMUNICATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACT ON FISHERIES AND MARINE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE GFCM AREA

1. Climate change and its impact on fisheries and marine ecosystems in the GFCM Area is an issue which merits due attention and has been brought up in recent meetings of both the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Commission. The Transversal Session of the Sub-Committees held in Malaga on 30th December 2009 agreed on the need to step-up activities on this topic on a Region-wide scale. 2. The SAC is in the best position to promote the integration of climate change considerations into scientific monitoring and assessments of fisheries resources in the Region. In addition, it is evident from the information available that that there are important socio-economic implications of climate change on fishing communities in the Mediterranean and Black Sea which the SAC may wish to address through its subsidiary bodies and the support of regional projects. The development of a regional policy to face the challenges of impacts of climate change on fisheries and to implement adaptation strategies over the coming decades should also be given due consideration. 3. The purpose of this information document is to present a summary of the current knowledge on the impacts of climate change on fisheries and marine ecosystems in general, as well as on the impacts identified so far in the Mediterranean basin through sub-regional initiatives. It is also intended to serve as a working document for SAC in developing a programme of work to address the subject. GENERAL FISHERIES COMMISSIO