Climate Change and Its Impact on Aquatic Ecosystem

Climate change involves long-term shifts in global and regional climate patterns, mainly driven by human activities that release greenhouse gases from fossil fuel use, deforestation, agriculture, and industry. These emissions intensify the greenhouse effect and warm the planet, causing major impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Oceans are experiencing sea-level rise, acidification, altered carbonate chemistry, and frequent marine heatwaves, which reduce biodiversity and disrupt fish populations. Freshwater systems also face threats from rising temperatures, altered flow patterns, pollution, invasive species, and nutrient enrichment. Fisheries worldwide are affected by declining productivity, changing species distribution, and greater risks from extreme events and diseases. In India, climate variability has reduced the availability of key marine species, increasing pressure on fishing communities. Overall, climate change poses serious challenges to aquatic environments, fisheries, and human livelihoods.