Managing ecosystem services sustainably requires understanding both nature and how people respond to change. This study examined how fishers reacted to a major marine heatwave that affected the valuable Dungeness crab fishery on the U.S. West Coast. Using detailed tracking data from over 500 fishing vessels, researchers found that fishers adapted by traveling to new areas and by fishing for more than one species. Fishers who used both strategies earned the most profit during the heatwave. These results show that flexible and diverse fishing practices can help people and industries cope with climate change.
Authors: Owen R. Liu, Mary Fisher, Blake E. Feist, Briana Abrahms, Kate Richerson, Jameal F. Samhouri
Journal: Global Environmental Change
DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2022.102629
Photo credit: Fred W. Hipkins FWS | NOAA Central Library Historical Fisheries Collection
