How climate change threatens the economic backbone of the Pacific

How climate change threatens the economic backbone of the Pacific12 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleJacob EvansBBC World ServiceMFORLarge fishing ships from around the world currently catch tuna in Kiribati's Exclusive Economic ZoneThe vast Pacific Ocean and the islands dotted within it produce more than half of the world's tuna.Among the islands are 33 scattered across the centre that encompass the country of Kiribati.Here more than 70% of government revenues come from selling tuna fishing licenses to foreign fleets - the highest proportion of any nation.Kiribati has a tiny land mass. When all the islands are combined it is about the size of New York City. However, it has a huge swathe of territorial waters, otherwise known as its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).Totalling more than 3.4 million sq km (1.3m sq miles), the EEZ is spread across three separate parts, surrounding the country's three groups of islands - Gilbert, Phoenix and Line.Collectively, this area is bigger than India and offers access to an ocean abundant with marine life, including skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye tuna.AFP via Getty ImagesThe global tuna market is said to be worth more than $44bn a yearYet, while the ocean is intimately linked to the culture, livelihoods and economy of Kiribati, it is also the country's biggest threat.Warming water temperatures caused by climate change pose a substantial risk to local tuna populations, threatening Kiribati's economic backbone.Scientists fear warmer waters could lead to tuna moving permanently out of its EEZ to cooler temperatures to the east, reducing the demand from overseas fleets for its fishing licenses, which would badly hit the country's economy.The global tuna market is worth more than $44bn a year, according to one study.To fish in Kiribati's waters, foreign fleets must first obtain a licence from the government. Then they have to pay the required fees, and follow strict rules on catch limits and...