Fish stocks in a changing climate

Problem addressed

Climate change is affecting the abundance, distribution, and productivity of many exploited species. Without specific assessments of these present-day effects, fisheries management decisions risk becoming ineffective or unsustainable.

What we do and how we do it

At AZTI, we apply an integrated approach to study the current impacts of climate change on fish stocks:

• Analysis of the vulnerability of commercial species to ocean warming.
• Biophysical modelling to project changes in biomass and distribution under IPCC scenarios.
• Monitoring of key oceanographic variables linked to population dynamics.
• Integration of socioeconomic and regulatory factors into risk assessments.
• Evaluations aligned with European adaptation and biodiversity policies.
• This approach is applicable to both pelagic and demersal species and can be adapted to local, regional, and global contexts.

Key benefits

• Proactive fisheries management and long-term strategic planning.
• Early identification of climate-related risks and opportunities.
• Practical tools to design adaptive and conservation measures.
• Strengthened resilience of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the face of future scenarios.