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This factsheet highlights some of the economic, as well as non-economic, losses and damages associated with the effects of climate change and increasing extreme weather events on the oceans for West Africa. It summarises findings from a global study which aims at developing a better understanding of the impacts of climate change on small-scale fisheries to identify suitable risk-management-solutions, and to show entry points for climate risk management (CRM) in order to enhance resilience.

This report indicates that the management of climate-related risks in West African fisheries is extremely complex and needs a multi-faceted approach, with a wide range of interventions focusing on protection, sustainable management, and improving the resilience of ecosystems, while simultaneously addressing the economic needs and adaptive capacity of fishing communities. Recommendations include: capacity-building at all levels to improve fisheries management and reduce risk combined with actively strengthening the participation of fishing communities in fisheries management; strengthening the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) as a regional data collection institution to improve data management and sharing of fisheries information; strengthening the implementation of transboundary ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management; and establishing a sub-regional network between research institutions, universities and all persons or institutions concerned to address the issues of climate change and small-scale fisheries.