Monitoring the vulnerability and adaptation of Pacific coastal fisheries to climate change

Abstract

Growing evidence suggests that climate change is having more substantial and rapid effects on marine communities than terrestrial ones. Climate change is predicted to have significant impacts on the distribution and abundance of fisheries resources, and is an issue for global food security. For regions where there is significant reliance of fisheries resources for food and/or income, understanding the potential impacts of climate change, and assessing whether potential impacts are realised is a critical issue. It is all the more important for Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) because many have a very high reliance on seafood as a source of protein, and modelling identifies that they are projected to have reduced seafood production as a result of climate change