KüNO Projects
KüNO Projects

balt_ADAPT: Adaptation of the Western Baltic Coastal Fishery to Climate Change

Short description

The cumulative impacts of climate change and fisheries are threatening local biodiversity and fisheries resources on an unprecedented scale. As a result, traditional coastal fisheries such as those of the Western Baltic are suffering from collapsing fish stocks. Surprisingly, little is known about the vulnerability of the biodiversity of the local fish community to the impacts of climate change and about the sustainability of the dominant social-ecological fishery systems for cod and herring. However, this knowledge is necessary for the development of ecosystem-based management and adaptation strategies needed to protect local biodiversity, but also to protect the well-being of coastal human populations. The main objective of balt_ADAPT is therefore to expand the knowledge base and develop tools for ecosystem-based management and adaptation of fisheries in the Western Baltic Sea that will assist policy makers to sustainably use fisheries resources under the impacts of future climate change. balt_ADAPT combines in a novel and unique way four crucial and interconnected elements for adaptation planning, i.e. vulnerability assessment, ecosystem state assessment, development of alternative management strategies and creation of narratives of the future evolution of the socio-ecological system. balt_ADAPT therefore provides important information for better local adaptation planning and a template for the protection of coastal biodiversity and livelihoods in Europe.

Funding period:

 11/2020 - 10/2023

 

Coordinator: University of Hamburg

Project partner:

Website: https://baltadapt.de

Contact: