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Impact of climate change and aquatic salinization on fish habitats and poor communities in southwest coastal Bangladesh and Bangladesh Sundarbans

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  • Dasgupta,Susmita
  • Huq,Mainul
  • Mustafa,Md. Golam
  • Sobhan,Md Istiak
  • Wheeler,David R.

Abstract

Fisheries constitute an important source of livelihoods for tens of thousands of poor people in the southwest coastal region of Bangladesh living near the UNESCO Heritage Sundarbans mangrove forest, and they supply a significant portion of protein for millions. Among the various threats fisheries in the southwest coastal region and Sundarbans mangrove forest will face because of climate change, adverse impacts from increased aquatic salinity caused by sea level rise have been identified as one of the greatest challenges. This paper focuses on 83 fish species consumed by poor households in the region. Using the salinity tolerance range for each species, 27 alternative scenarios of climate change in 2050 were investigated to assess the possible impacts of climate change and sea level rise on aquatic salinity, fish species habitats, and the poor communities that consume the affected fish species. The results provide striking evidence that projected aquatic salinization may have an especially negative impact on poor households in the region. The estimates indicate that areas with poor populations that lose species are about six times more prevalent than areas gaining species.

Suggested Citation

  • Dasgupta,Susmita & Huq,Mainul & Mustafa,Md. Golam & Sobhan,Md Istiak & Wheeler,David R., 2016. "Impact of climate change and aquatic salinization on fish habitats and poor communities in southwest coastal Bangladesh and Bangladesh Sundarbans," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7593, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:7593
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Susmita Dasgupta & Md. Moqbul Hossain & Mainul Huq & David Wheeler, 2016. "Facing The Hungry Tide: Climate Change, Livelihood Threats, And Household Responses In Coastal Bangladesh," Climate Change Economics (CCE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 7(03), pages 1-25, August.
    2. Alam, Md. Ferdous & Thomson, Kenneth J., 2001. "Current constraints and future possibilities for Bangladesh fisheries," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(3), pages 297-313, June.
    3. Azizur Rahman Khan, 2015. "The Economy of Bangladesh," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-137-54974-7, December.
    4. World Bank, 2000. "Bangladesh : Climate Change and Sustainable Development," World Bank Publications - Reports 15706, The World Bank Group.
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    1. Dasgupta, Susmita & Huq, Mainul & Mustafa, Md. Golam & Sobhan, Md. Istiak & Wheeler, David, 2017. "The Impact of Aquatic Salinization on Fish Habitats and Poor Communities in a Changing Climate: Evidence from Southwest Coastal Bangladesh," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 128-139.
    2. Susmita Dasgupta & Mainul Huq & Istiak Sobhan & David Wheeler, 2018. "Sea-Level Rise and Species Conservation in Bangladesh¡¯s Sundarbans Region," Journal of Management and Sustainability, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 8(1), pages 1-12, March.

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    Keywords

    Climate Change and Health; Hydrology; Climate Change and Environment; Global Environment; Inequality; Science of Climate Change;
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