Climate Change and Fisheries Habitat Conservation: Observations and Recommendations from the American Fisheries Society

As a result of global climate change, fisheries that have sustained us in the past (whether through recreational, commercial, or subsistence means) will likely be different from the fisheries that will sustain us in the future.  Vulnerability assessments will be required to understand which species, communities, and habitats are at risk so that appropriate adaptation measures can be designed.  For success, adaptation policies must include long-term monitoring of sensitive ecosystem indicators, predictive modeling of ecosystem conditions, mitigation of local stressors and enhancement of ecosystem resilience, identification of irreversibly imperiled communities or habitats and shifts in focus to maintain ecosystem function, goods, and services which may include surrogate species communities.  The uncertainty of impacts of climate change on communities and habitats necessitates that work should be carried out within an adaptive management framework where evaluation of policies and management action are strong components.  Finally, education and outreach campaigns centered on informing policy-makers, and the public on the consequences of climate change for aquatic communities and habitats is needed to shape expectations for goods and services derived from marine and freshwater systems.  In the interest of sustaining marine and freshwater fisheries and their habitats, the American Fisheries Society has developed a policy that encourages immediate reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and implementation of adaptation concepts and practices to conserve fisheries and their habitats.