Climate Adaptation Strategies for Northeast U.S. Fishing Communities

Marine waters of the Northeast Shelf have warmed faster than 99% of the world’s oceans over the past 30 years. This rapid warming has already affected the productivity and distribution of species such as Atlantic cod, American lobster, and Northern shrimp. These ecological changes also impact humans, as the region's fisheries and fishing communities work to adapt. Ultimately, the intensity of social, economic, and cultural impacts depends on both how vulnerable target species are to changes in ocean temperatures, and whether individuals and communities can effectivity adapt. Forward-looking information on projected species changes, economic impacts, and adaptation benefits is foundational to support operational, investment, management, and planning decisions the fishing industry and fishing communities face.

We are leading several interdisciplinary projects to provide community-scale information that can be used to guide adaptation and planning for future ecosystem and fishery changes. Our research products include projections of future species changes under several climate scenarios, estimates of economic impacts to local fisheries, and evaluations of economic benefits associated with specific adaptation strategies. Stakeholder interviews and workshops enable us to identify and evaluate relevant strategies and understand facilitators and barriers to their implementation. Integrated together, this information can be used to identify viable pathways to support resilient fisheries and fishing communities. Working with community leaders and local organizations, our ultimate goal is for these products to help identify future opportunities for regional fisheries that will sustain harvested resources and vibrant communities in the face of climate change.