Coastal fishing traditions that exist along the west coast are at risk to climate change. These communities depend on fishing for their livelihoods and traditional ways of life. How do fishers view vulnerability and the impacts of climate change on fisheries? How do the perceptions of fishers compare to what researchers find are the most at-risk communities? And what solutions are there to help these communities adapt?
The Port of Ilwaco, located at the mouth of the Columbia River in Ilwaco, Washington. Photo credit: Erika Nortemann.
A series of papers coming out of a research project funded by the Lenfest Ocean Program and spearheaded by Dr. Phillip Levin at The Nature Conservancy and University of Washington, and Dr. Alison Cullen, University of Washington, are hoping to answer these questions. The latest research study published today by Dr. Laura Nelson in the journal PLOS Climate gets at the focuses on perception, asking, “How do fishers view vulnerability and the impacts of climate change on fisheries?”.
Key Findings
The study looked at 162 surveys conducted with fishers across California, Oregon, and Washington and found that perceptions of climate vulnerability differed widely based on fundamental beliefs about whether or not climate change is occurring, and that people who fished on larger vessels felt they had a greater ability to adapt to climate change.
Researchers asked fishers to what extent they agreed or disagreed with statements about the future of fishing and climate change. They found answers ranged across a spectrum, and percentages in this graphic reflect the respondents that overall disagreed (left), neutral (middle), and agreed (right).
In addition to climate impacts, survey respondents named operational costs, regulations, and habitat loss as key concerns, factors that if left unaddressed could present barriers to long-term adaptation.
“Fishing communities have first-hand, local ecological knowledge, and while their assessment of climate vulnerability may differ from vulnerability as measured by subject experts, it’s a critical piece of the puzzle.”
Lead author Dr. Laura Nelson also adds, “Understanding their perspectives and these differences is essential for managers hoping to enact climate adaptation strategies that address both long-term impacts of climate change and the most pressing concerns for those on the frontlines of this work.”
Perceptions of climate vulnerability play an important role in behavior and will be a factor in how and to what extent individuals take action to adapt to climate change. As industry and fisheries management work to support fishers in the future, understanding the concerns of fishers and how they perceive climate risks is essential to inform climate adaptation efforts moving forward. Findings from this study indicate that climate communications and policy actions will be more effective if they address both the near-term concerns of fishing communities and improved climate adaptation and resilience.
Complementary Studies
Salmon fishing. Photo credit: Cameron Karsten.
This builds on research released in late 2022, also conducted through the TNC and UW partnership that assessed climate vulnerability of these same communities based on the catch species, economic resilience, and other social factors. The research established a framework to assess community vulnerability, and identifying which communities might be at high risk, delayed risk, or are positioned to effectively adapt to climate change.
“There is no one-size-fits-all solution for climate adaptation for fishing communities because each community may be vulnerable for a different reason” noted lead author Dr. Laura Koehn, previously with University of Washington. “By understanding how vulnerability is shaped across all fishing communities on the west coast, fisheries managers can identify various climate adaptation strategies to support communities that are experiencing the full spectrum of climate risk or different aspects of climate risk.”
Together, these studies presented provide a holistic understanding of climate vulnerability and adaptation potential for the fisheries industry in the California Current which fisheries managers and regional governing bodies can apply to create equitable and effective climate adaptation measures that benefit both people and marine ecosystems.
Correction: In a previous version of this article the caption of the graphic read, '"Views on ocean warming and fisheries. Results of the question, 'What, if any, effect do you believe ocean warming is having on these fisheries?'." This has been updated to accurately reflect the data presented.
