Managing for climate resilient fisheries: Applications to the Southern Ocean

Climate change is having profound effects on populations of fished species and the ecosystems on which they depend, lending to a growing body of work that advocates for climate resilience to be a priority in fishery management. Here, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the tools needed to manage for climate resiliency. The Antarctic region is among the most vulnerable to climate change, and thus, we then consider climate resilient management tools utilized by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the body responsible for the management of Antarctic marine living resources as part of the Antarctic Treaty System. We note progress, gaps, and opportunities for implementation. Across the literature, ecosystem -based management was cited as an appropriate tool for climate resilience of marine ecosystems, as was the use of climate model outputs (projections and simulations), marine protected areas (MPAs), and dynamic stock as-sessments. CCAMLR has a unique position where its Convention effectively mandates the principles of an ecosystem-based precautionary approach for managing fisheries, and many of its Member States have been advocating for climate initiatives within this approach. While CCAMLR has made limited overall progress to-wards ensuring climate resilience, it has advanced in some areas, such as MPA implementation, developing a risk assessment for krill, and including statements on climate change in fishery reports, although there is much work to be done. While climate change remains a worldwide issue that must be addressed on a global scale, CCAMLR holds the responsibility for adaptively managing Southern Ocean marine living resources for climate resilience.

Automated summary

Climate change has significant impacts on fished species and their ecosystems, highlighting the need for climate resilience in fishery management. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of tools for managing climate resilience, focusing on the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and their efforts in the vulnerable Antarctic region. Ecosystem-based management, climate model outputs, marine protected areas, and dynamic stock assessments are identified as appropriate tools for climate resilience. While there have been some advancements, such as MPA implementation and risk assessment for krill, there is still much work to be done by CCAMLR.