Cop-27 – A missed opportunity for fisheries?

It is no secret that small-scale fishing plays an important role, both in our country’s historical and cultural fabric, as well as our socioeconomic status in the present day.

Additionally, our efforts in maintaining a sustainable food supply, depends most heavily on our surrounding waters, and the quality of our fishing stock available to our fishers.

However, an existential threat to the sustainability of our marine ecology looms large. In what was termed by the UN Secretary General as a “chronicle of climate chaos”, the warming of our seas will lead to exponential, devastating consequences.

While indigenous species face a threat to the sustainability of their local ecosystem, they also face the threat of extinction from invasive alien species, which may disrupt the ecological balance at play. Species such as the lowfin chub and theblueswimmer crab, which originate from distant tropical reefs, have been spotted close to our shores. These invasive species may end up competing directly with indigenous stocks for food and shelter. In turn, this affects the reproductivity of the local fish populations, especially those which are currently dwindling in numbers.

The latest report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species notes that no less than 43 Mediterranean fish species are currently under threat. More worryingly, 14 of these species are already critically endangered.

The effect that the possible extinction of these species may have, both directly and indirectly, on our local fishing stock is truly incomparable. Entire industries face a herculean effort to maintain a stable future, let alone maintain steady growth for the benefit of their local communities.

Regretfully, COP27’s Agenda Document makes only scant reference to the importance of food security. While the same agenda also briefly mentions the importance of access to drinking water, there is absolutely no mention of the importance of protecting our fish and aquatic resources.

Such a decision was truly a missed opportunity for global change-makers. For several hundreds of millions around the world, the seas are the only stable source of food and income. Entire communities find themselves at risk. The changes in our seas cause undue strain on local and regional food production, exacerbating issues of wealth inequality and global hungry.

The decision by the COP27 organisers in Egypt not to specifically address this issue may prove to be a significant black mark on this week’s developments for the future.

In this regard, I echo the message of Prime Minister Robert Abela during his speech in Sharm-el-Sheikh earlier this week, about the threats posed by climate change on small states. While not the biggest emitters of carbon dioxide, countries such as our own will undoubtedly face the brunt of the threat posed by climate change.

Our very way of life may be at stake.

The deadline for goodwill and dialogue has long passe. Concrete action must take place today.

It is no longer just a question of preserving natural resources for future generations, when the effects on our marine and ecological biodiversity are ¬happening as we speak. The immediacy of the problem can only be countered with immediate tangible policy and legislative changes, not flashy declarations for the future.

This Government has consistently adopted a scientific approach when dealing with the fishing industry. The new Aquaculture Research Lab in San Luċjan will help charter a more sustainable future for our fishers. Initiatives such as an alternative, sustainable food for local tuna production will provide a welltimed boost to our local maritime ecology. Moreover, Malta’s active involvement in the International Bottom Trawl Survey in the Mediterranean (MEDITS) helps efforts to scientifically maintain a stable fishing stock for the present and future generations of fishers.

However, if global change remains aloof, initiatives such as the above will only delay the inevitable. My appeal is that COP27 recognises this massive flaw in its initial policy deliberations, and that the delegates present will seek out proactive, multilateral policy changes over and above what is discussed this week.

One can only hope that the final results emanating from COP-27 do not fall short in addressing these pertinent questions. Whatever happens in Egypt, the one certainty is that our efforts in preserving our seas still have a long way to go. As global policy leaders, we owe it to ourselves, and to our children, that we see this done.