Climate change, overfishing: Lake Chad sees fish stocks dwindle

# Why This Matters The collapse of Lake Chad's fisheries represents a cascading crisis across one of Africa's most fragile regions, where an estimated 10 million people depend directly on the lake for protein and livelihoods. As fish stocks disappear, communities in Niger, Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon face acute malnutrition, particularly among children, while fishermen and traders lose their primary income source with few viable alternatives in economies already decimated by conflict and poverty. The humanitarian pressure will likely accelerate migration toward cities and across borders, potentially destabilizing already-fragile governments and fueling competition for scarce resources. Without urgent intervention—including transnational fishing restrictions and climate adaptation funding—Lake Chad's fishery collapse could trigger a humanitarian emergency affecting millions and deepen the Sahel's descent into state failure.