Fishing and climate change in coastal Bangladesh: the economic and health impacts of increasing salinity
In this study, river salinity monitor data were combined with fish sales records from nearby wholesale markets to evaluate the magnitude, spatial distribution, and fishing impact of salinity changes throughout 2023 in Bangladesh. Significant impacts on fish quantities were observed, and analysis of associated child health data revealed that salinity-related health challenges persist despite steady poverty reduction.
Econometric analysis of fish catch records demonstrated that salinity changes differentially affect the availability of fish species with varying salinity tolerances, reflecting the interplay of species-specific salinity aversion and fishers’ adaptive strategies to optimize profitable catches. These findings highlight the importance of complementing technical assessments of species-specific salinity tolerances with empirical salinity and catch data to improve projections of salinity impacts on fish consumption in affected regions. The results provide actionable insights into the dynamic interactions between environmental change, ecological responses, and human adaptation in coastal settings.
Explore further
