A Study of the vulnerability of the Fishing Industry in Portugal

The effects of climate change on fisheries are often discussed, but how can these effects be measured? As part of the CLIMFISH – Vulnerability of Fisheries to Climate Change project, Francisco Leitão, a researcher at the Centre for Marine Sciences (CCMAR), is studying the vulnerability of the fishing industry in Portugal, taking into account the effects climate change is expected to have in the next 20 to 30 years.

The researcher is also trying to understand how these changes may affect natural resources (species), or indirectly affect both the economy and society (fishermen, the fishing industry).

The structure of all marine communities varies in terms of both space and time, in response to a variety of physical and biological factors. Their effects, and how they influence the marine ecosystem, is one of the fundamental aspects of ecosystem ecology. In Francisco Leitão’s opinion, “Coastal areas are one of the most productive areas in the world. They play the crucial role of a nursery, sheltering many fish in their larval and juvenile phases, as well as invertebrates exploited in fisheries.”

There is growing evidence that these environmental factors cause both long-term and large-scale fluctuations in fish stocks.

As the researcher explains, “Up to now, the relationship between the environment and fisheries has been underexplored and even neglected in the context of sustainable coastal fisheries management.” The main impact of the CLIMFISH project will be in the pinpointing of at-risk fisheries, and the resulting socioeconomic implications. “Without this knowledge, any measure implemented in an attempt to alleviate the problem will not be absolute,” he defends.

“We’re trying to find out if the climate affects species neutrally, positively or negatively, attempting to understand how increasing temperatures affect their geographical distribution, and how changes in the speed of the currents affect fish production,” explains Francisco Leitão. The researcher also explains that, “We’re also studying the indirect consequences of these changes on the society that depends on these fisheries (fishermen, the fishing industry and consumers).”

This project may help determine the type of action political players should prioritise in order to help society better adapt to climate change in the future. The study follows the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s methodological guidelines, therefore basing itself on current information and knowledge in the areas of Ecology, Sociology and Economics.

In Francisco Leitão’s opinion, “Providing policymakers with management tools based on scientific data is essential to developing concrete policies that mitigate the effects of climate change on species and the fishing industry.”

The project is funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology. It is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as it aims to evaluate and implement measures that mitigate the effects of climate change on the oceans, seas and marine resources.

Francisco Leitão has a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Biology and Fisheries,a Master’s in Marine Ecology, a PhD inFisheries Science and Technology, Population Biology and is a researcher for the Centre for Marine Sciences (CCMAR).