Overview

Northeast US fisheries are on the frontlines of climate change. To support informed decision making in fisheries responding to mounting impacts, this resource hub combines community-specific information on climate-driven shifts of marine species with potential adaptation options. This can advance climate resilience planning in fishing communities along the Northeast US coast.

Our resource hub compiles ecological and social science research conducted through recent projects that developed projections of species shifts and examined adaptation needs and options in Northeast US fisheries. Information focuses on three main stages of the adaptation process: understanding, planning, and managing.

• Understanding defines the fishery system for adaptation actions to focus on, sets adaptation goals, and builds awareness about the types of impacts climate change may pose.
• Planning focuses on identifying and examining possible adaptation options so that the fishery system can adjust to potential impacts or risks.
• Managing raises issues to consider when implementing adaptation actions and subsequently monitoring and evaluating their performance to enable refinement over time.

Importantly, process matters throughout these three stages: inclusive engagement of stakeholders and weighing equity implications of potential actions should be central throughout. Engaging and facilitating meaningful opportunities for stakeholders involved in or affected by fisheries is important for ensuring a diversity of perspectives shape the community’s adaptation goals and approaches.