Climate change could critically harm $253 billion US fishing industry, experts tell senators

Climate change has caused ocean temperatures to steadily rise, which, experts warned senators Wednesday, could significantly harm the fishing industry. 

Andrea Dutton, a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, said burning fossil fuels primarily drives climate change, which could cause widespread economic and environmental problems.

Fossil fuels generate high levels of carbon dioxide, which, in oceans, could cause heat waves and create acidic seawater that could harm anything living in the ecosystem.

Rashid Sumaila, a University Killam professor and research chair at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, said fisheries catch about 120 million tons of fish annually, generating about $240 billion in worldwide revenue. 

“Now in the U.S., and the chair has given us some numbers that are quite similar, in 2020 commercial and recreational saltwater fishing alone generated over $250 billion in sales,” Sumaila said. “So lots of dollars, and the contribution to America’s [gross domestic product] is estimated to be over $110 billion a year, which supports 1.7 million American jobs in the marine sector. Huge, huge benefits to everybody.”

If climate change kills or forces fish to move, crucial food sources and jobs will be gone, Sumaila said.

Kyle Schaefer works as a fishing guide in Maine and is the founder and owner of a fishing lodge in the Bahamas. 

Warming waters and severe weather events like hurricanes and heavy rains have significantly affected his business, Schaefer told the Senate Committee on the Budget on Wednesday. 

“My businesses succeed only because of thriving healthy ecosystems and relatively predictable climate patterns,” Schaefer said. “Unfortunately, in large part due to climate change, our oceans are now desperately lacking the stability, balance and the abundance that we rely on.” 

Schaefer said many fish are moving to different areas, which strains ecosystems as local fish must now compete with new species for limited resources. 

There have been five consecutive years of failed spawning events for striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay, which is a problem, Schaefer explained, because the fish are estimated to have a $7.7 billion impact on the region’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to a study from Southwick Associates. 

Schaefer also told lawmakers that these fish are a primary example of the effects of climate change, and these conditions may force him to close his business if they do not improve.

“I can’t hide from it,” Schaefer said. “I dream of passing healthy businesses down to my almost 3-year-old son one day. I want to be proud of what will lead to future generations.” 

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) spoke for ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who is recovering after being hospitalized for an infection. The senator, who is the chamber’s oldest member, is recovered enough to vote but not yet to serve as a ranking member, Johnson said. 

While Johnson is not a climate change denier, he said he disagrees with the extent of the actions taken to prevent it.

“Instead of discussing the most pressing fiscal or maritime issues, Democrats have elected to hold an ocean warming hearing to scare people about climate change,” Johnson said. 

Chair Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) explained the importance of making changes now to reduce climate change to protect against greater economic impacts in the future, citing research from Deloitte.

“Deloitte has projected that if we do nothing about climate change, the cost [to] global GDP would be $178 trillion negative, that if we hit net-zero by 2050, that will create $43 trillion in added GDP globally for a $220 trillion swing between getting this right and getting this wrong,” Whitehouse said. 

Dutton said that most current data estimating climate change impact is underestimated and that it is essential to make changes before critical thresholds are reached. 

“The most important part of my message today is that because humans are driving rapid warming of our planet — this is good news — it means we are also the solution to the problem,” Dutton said. “Our climate future is not written in stone.”