Impact of Climate Change on Aquatic Biodiversity and Food Security: A Review

Climate change has emerged as a major driver altering aquatic ecosystems globally. This review synthesizes evidence on how rising water temperatures, ocean acidification, and altered precipitation patterns affect aquatic biodiversity and consequently food security. Increasing sea surface temperatures have shifted species distributions poleward and disrupted breeding cycles of fish and invertebrates. Ocean acidification due to elevated CO₂ levels impairs calcification in molluscs, corals, and plankton, threatening food webs. Freshwater systems face habitat loss from droughts and floods, reducing fish yields in climate-vulnerable regions. These biodiversity losses directly impact global fisheries, aquaculture, and nutritional security for over 3 billion people dependent on aquatic protein. Adaptation strategies including marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries management, and diversification of food sources are discussed. Data from 1990–2012 indicate an urgent need for integrated climate-biodiversity-food policy.