TY - JOUR
T1 - Fish catches from Lake Tanganyika mainly reflect changes in fishery practices, not climate
AU - Sarvala, J.
AU - Langenberg, V.T.
AU - Salonen, K.
AU - Chitamwebwa, D.
AU - Coulter, G.W.
AU - Huttula, T.
AU - Kanyaru, R.
AU - Kotilainen, P.
AU - Makasa, S.
AU - Mulimbwa, N.
AU - Molsa, H.
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Recently it was claimed that an increase in regional temperature, related to global climate change, has resulted in substantial decline in the pelagic fish catches from Lake Tanganyika, East Africa. Surface temperatures of Tanganyika indeed show warming trends, but evidence for decreased productivity is ambiguous, and no overall decline in fish catches has been documented. In contrast, total lake-wide fish catches increased up to 1995, increased artisanal catches outweighing regional declines in industrial fisheries. We conclude that the present evidence is not sufficient to demonstrate the effects of climate change on fish stocks in Tanganyika. Evidence indicates rather that fishery intensification has been the major factor affecting fish populations.
AB - Recently it was claimed that an increase in regional temperature, related to global climate change, has resulted in substantial decline in the pelagic fish catches from Lake Tanganyika, East Africa. Surface temperatures of Tanganyika indeed show warming trends, but evidence for decreased productivity is ambiguous, and no overall decline in fish catches has been documented. In contrast, total lake-wide fish catches increased up to 1995, increased artisanal catches outweighing regional declines in industrial fisheries. We conclude that the present evidence is not sufficient to demonstrate the effects of climate change on fish stocks in Tanganyika. Evidence indicates rather that fishery intensification has been the major factor affecting fish populations.
U2 - 10.1080/03680770.2005.11902871
DO - 10.1080/03680770.2005.11902871
M3 - Article
SN - 0368-0770
VL - 29
SP - 1182
EP - 1188
JO - Verhandlungen Internationale Vereinigung für Theoretische und Angewandte Limnologie
JF - Verhandlungen Internationale Vereinigung für Theoretische und Angewandte Limnologie
ER -
