Identifying the vulnerability of fishing communities and targeted species to climate change to optimize the role of MPAs in enhancing socio-ecological resilience

Award Period
to
Award Amount
$634,770
Agency Name
Cal Ocean Protection Council
Award Number
C0874015
PI First Name
Jenn
PI Last Name
Caselle
Area/s of Research
Climate Change Science
Marine Conservation, Policy and Education
Abstract

The project will develop species distribution models for all marine fish and invertebrates harvested in California’s commercial, recreational, and tribal fisheries. The project team will use these models to project range shifts under multiple climate scenarios and measure changes in Marine Protected Area (MPA) coverage. Highly detailed fisheries-dependent data will be used to characterize the species and fishing grounds currently targeted by every California fishing community. Shifts in each community’s fishing grounds will be projected and used to identify vulnerable communities whose fishing grounds are expected to contract, migrate, and/or become concentrated inside MPAs. This will empower adaptive management that could strengthen traditional fisheries management regulations for fisheries losing MPA protection or lessen regulations for fisheries gaining protection, especially for fisheries targeted by vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.