Droughts, floods, storms and other disasters triggered by climate or human drivers have risen in frequency and/or severity over the last few decades, and have caused increasing damage to developing countries and to agriculture sectors such as fisheries and aquaculture. A recent study by FAO shows that the agriculture sectors absorbs approximately 22 percent of the economic impact caused by medium- and large scale natural hazards and disasters in developing countries.

Assessing post disaster damage and socio-economic impact is difficult due to the lack of reliable and systematic information and to the high heterogeneity of available data. A systematic and timely approach to compile information on disaster impacts enables policy-makers to take evidence-based decisions on disaster risk reduction and management measures and plans. This information is also essential to inform disaster response and recovery teams and to address risks.  

The BlueBRIDGE project is developing tools which use remote sensing technologies to support the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. These technologies offer promising opportunities:

• To assist disaster assessment: timely support for emergency needs assessment and response in the fisheries and aquaculture sector; using time series of imageries can help assessing the extent of damage on infrastructures in an area.
• To assist disaster management strategies, through the development of spatially explicit risk mitigation strategies and policies, and through development of disaster preparedness strategies (e.g. zone planning and area management).

The Fishery and Aquaculture Department of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of United Nations (FAO) alluded to the promising work undertaken by BlueBRIDGE at a recent FAO expert consultation which looked at establishing an information system on damage and losses from disasters in crops, livestock, fisheries, aquaculture and forestry. The meeting was held on 9-10 June 2016 at the FAO headquarters in Rome.

The consultation brought together experts, practitioners, researchers and other relevant stakeholders involved in the assessment of damages and losses from natural disasters from relevant international, regional and national organizations, research institutes, private sector and academia.

The presentation “Assessing damage and loss in fisheries and aquaculture” is available below.

Click here for more information on the “Expert consultation: Establishing an information system on damage and losses from disasters in crops, livestock, fisheries, aquaculture and forestry”.