Implications of Climatic Change on Physico-chemical Parameters of Freshwater and Fisheries: A Review

Climate change refers to long-term local, regional and global alternations in average temperature and weather patterns. It has been a global concern in recent decades and is related to human activity. Fish can be stenothermal or eurythermal as well as warm-water or cold water depending on their tolerance limits of temperature.  The decline of global fish production because of climate change in many parts of the world is widely documented as fishing down the food web or overfishing may lead to further decline of fisheries production and food insecurity. Changes in physicochemical parameters of water are one of the most important consequences of climate change that will have a significant impact on the fisheries. Most physicochemical characteristics, including salinity, turbidity, conductivity, total hardness, FCO2, TDS, ammonia and nitrate are directly related to water temperature. pH and DO have an inverse relationship, whereas BOD showed a direct relationship up to 50 0C but total alkalinity and chloride provide no definite relationships. This paper reviews the link between these physicochemical factors and temperature changes, as well as potential effects on fisheries.