SPECIAL REPORT: As climate change pushes fish into deeper waters, Nigerian coastal fishermen lose livelihoods

In Nigeria’s Niger Delta, the changing climate is devastating the livelihoods of coastal fishermen. Communities like Ikot Inua Eyet in Akwa Ibom State are witnessing a dramatic decline in fish stocks within traditional shallow waters.

Christian Inyang, a 52-year-old fisherman, explained the stark reality: "Our catch is no longer like before. If you don’t have a big boat with a powerful engine to go far into the sea, you won’t catch anything." For generations, these waters provided ample fish for families and local markets. Now, the fish have moved deeper into the ocean, making them inaccessible to many artisanal fishers.

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There is a lot that has changed. Our catch is no longer like before. If you don’t have a big boat with a powerful engine to go far into the sea, you won’t catch anything.

This shift is attributed by some to climate change, a phenomenon Inyang acknowledges he doesn't fully understand but recognizes its impact. The inability to afford powerful engines needed for offshore fishing forces many, like Inyang, to remain landlocked, seeking alternative income sources.

Fishing has been a cornerstone of coastal communities in southern Nigeria for generations, predating the oil industry's impact. It remains a vital source of protein for Nigeria's over 200 million people and a critical part of the national economy. However, rising ocean temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and sea-level rise, as outlined by the IPCC, are altering marine ecosystems globally, pushing fish into cooler, deeper waters and threatening the sustainability of this essential sector.

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I don’t know much about it, but what I know is that the fish have gone deeper into the ocean.