Mangrove forests quietly sustain global fisheries, protecting them is critical for people and the planet.

Mangrove forests are more than just ecosystems for millions of people living along the tropical coastline. Mangroves are a source of food, income and survival. Until recently, the scale of independent communities on mangroves have been difficult to measure. A global study changes that. Mapping the most detailed picture yet of how many fishers rely on these coastal forests and where fishing pressure is the most intense. 

Using a combination of environmental data and population statistics,  researchers developed a model to estimate the number of people relying on mangroves. Approximately 4.1 million fishers relied on mangroves. 

These fishers are primarily small-scale fishers, often working in communities where access to alternate incomes and food sources is limited. Mangroves are giant nurseries for fish, crabs and shrimp. Making them a huge role in food security, especially in regions with few other ways to make economic development. 

The largest populations of mangrove dependent fishers are in countries such as Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Brazil. Regions where coastal communities and mangrove ecosystems overlap. 

Mangroves support species during their early stages before they move to open water, making them crucial to local fisheries. However, the importance of mangroves goes beyond ecology, fish caught in these ecosystems are a primary source of protein for many developing regions. The loss of mangroves is not just an environmental issue, but a threat to human well being. 

Mangrove forests are under increasing threat from coastal development, pollution and climate change. As the ecosystems disappear, so do the resources they provide. 

The consequences of mangrove loss extends far beyond biodiversity. Declines in mangrove health could lead to; reduced fish populations, loss of income for small-scale fishers and increased food insecurity in vulnerable regions. Protecting mangroves is not just about saving ecosystems, but supporting millions of people who depend on it everyday. 

Ermgassen et al. sheds light on the overlooked connection between people and coastal ecosystems. By revealing the global scale and uneven distribution of mangrove fisheries, it provides a clearer answer for more equitable decision making. Mangroves may grow quietly along the shoreline, but their impacts reach farther, sustaining communities across the globe. 

Source: Ermgassen P. et al “Fishers who rely on mangroves: Modelling and mapping the global intensity of mangrove-associated fisheries”. Science Direct 2020