People living in the tropical Pacific have a strong affinity for rivers - an identity that is reflected in local languages1. On Kadavu Island in Fiji, for example, river names describe many of the traditional fishing and subsistence activities, such as: Nubunisici - 'snail pool' Waidoidoi -'doi stream' Wainituva - 'tuva stream' a pool where edible freshwater snails (sici) can be found; where the bark of doi trees, a buckthorn variety (Alphitonia zizyphoides), can be used to tie bundles of fish together; source of tuva or derris vine (Derris trifoliata) roots yielding a poison used to stun and collect fish and prawns; Nubuniura - 'pool of prawns' Macrobrachium spp.; Waikana - 'food stream' a river known to contain edible species, a rich source of food. Throughout the tropical Pacific, from the large rivers in Papua New Guinea (PNG), to the small streams on high islands, freshwater fish and invertebrates contribute to food security. Although the quantities harvested for subsistence are still poorly quantified2,3 (Chapter 10), awareness of the reliance on freshwater and estuarine resources is increasing. There is concern that the freshwater and estuarine habitats in the region that support these subsistence fisheries, by providing areas and structures where fish and invertebrates can reproduce, feed, recruit, grow and migrate, may be vulnerable to climate change. Consequently, the rich culture of people who use these rivers as part of their daily lives may also be at risk. In this chapter, we describe the nature of freshwater and estuarine habitats in the tropical Pacific, their role in supporti ng fisheries, and the critical requirements needed to maintain them. We then evaluate the vulnerability of freshwater and estuarine habitats to climate change and consider the interactions between the effects of a changing climate and existing impacts on these habitats. We conclude by assessing the constraints to adaptation, the gaps in knowledge to be filled by future research, and the management interventions needed to help maintain the resilience of freshwater and estuarine habitats in the face of climate change.
History
Publication title
Vulnerability of Tropical Pacific Fisheries and Aquaculture to Climate Change
Edition
1st
Editors
JD Bell, JE Johnson and AJ Hobday
Pagination
369-431
ISBN
9789820004719
Department/School
School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences
Publisher
Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Place of publication
Noumea
Extent
13
Rights statement
Copyright 2011 Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
Repository Status
Open
Socio-economic Objectives
Assessment and management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean ecosystems