Chennai: Extreme weather and warming seas are threatening the lives and livelihoods of small-scale fishers in the Bay of Bengal, with the region facing a mounting climate emergency, according to a report presented at a regional UN meeting here.

The study, Disaster Risks and Climate Change in BoB Region, presented by Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) Director P. Krishnan at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) meet, warned that cyclonic disturbances are reducing fishing activity by 10-15 days a year, impacting incomes and food security.

Marine heatwaves, projected to rise to 250 days annually by 2100, could devastate fish stocks and intensify extreme weather events, the report said. “The same waters that sustained millions of livelihoods are now becoming more hostile and unpredictable,” Krishnan noted.

The findings pointed to rising seas, storm surges and saline intrusion that make coastal communities in the Bay among the most climate-vulnerable in South Asia. Poor access to insurance and low compliance with safety measures exacerbate the risks, it said.

The report called for urgent implementation of BOBSAFE, a regional plan on fisher safety developed by FAO and BOBP-IGO and endorsed in 2023.

Case studies highlighted solutions such as restoring mangroves, building disaster-resilient fishing villages, climate-smart credit schemes, and community-based early warning systems.

The three-day meeting, organised by FAO and BOBP-IGO, is being attended by officials, scientists and fisher representatives from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives. It concludes Friday.