A framework for assess vulnerability of coastal fisheries to climate change in Portuguese coast

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Ecological sensitivity and vulnerability of fishing fleet landings to climate change across regions

Publication . Albo Puigserver, Marta; Bueno-Pardo, Juan; Pinto, Miguel; N. Monteiro, J.; Ovelheiro, Andreia; Teodosio, Maria; Leitão, Francisco

The degree of exposure of fishing communities to environmental changes can be partially determined by the vulnerability of the target species and the landings composition. Hence, identifying the species that ecologically most contribute to the vulnerability of the landings are key steps to evaluate the risk posed by climate change. We analyse the temporal variability in intrinsic sensitivity and the ecological vulnerability of the Portuguese fisheries landings, considering the species proportions derived both from the weights and revenues. To account for the diversification of species of each fleet, we explored the species dependence of the fishery in combination with the vulnerability of them. The analyses were carried out separately for three fleet typologies and three regions. Opposite to what has been observed at a global scale, the ecological sensitivity of the fisheries landings between 1989 and 2015 did not display a decline across areas or fishing fleets. Considering each fleet independently, for trawling, where average vulnerability was lower than in the other fleets, the sensitivity of the landings increased since the 2000s. On the other hand, the high vulnerability found in multi-gear fleets was compensated by diversification of the species caught, while purse-seine fleets targeted low vulnerability species but presented a high fishery dependence on few species. The results highlight the importance of combining information on ecological vulnerability and diversification of fishing resources at a regional scale while providing a measure of the ecological exposure to climate change.

2022-10Journal article

Open access

The influence of upwelling on key bivalves from the Humboldt and Iberian current systems

Publication . García-Huidobro, M. Roberto; Aldana, Marcela; Varela, Pablo; García-Herrera, Claudio; Monteiro, Luís; Leitão, Francisco; Teodosio, Maria; Quijón, Pedro A.; Varas, Oscar; Fernandéz, Melissa; Duarte, Cristian; Pulgar, José

Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems (EBUS) deliver cold, nutrient-rich waters, influencing coastal biota from the molecular to the ecosystem level. Although local upwelling (U) and downwelling (DU) conditions are often known, their influence on body attributes of relevant species has not been systematically compared within and between EBUS (i.e., below and above regional scales). Hence, we compared the physical-chemical characteristics of U and DU sites in the Humboldt Current system (Chile) and the Iberian Current system (Portugal). We then assessed the influence of U and DU upon eight body attributes in purple mussels (Perumytilus purpuratus) and Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), from the Humboldt and Iberian systems, respectively. We hypothesized that bivalves from U sites display better fitness, as measured by body attributes, regardless of their origin (EBUS). As expected, waters from U sites in both systems showed lower temperatures and pH, and higher nitrite concentrations. We also found that mussels from U sites showed better fitness than those in DU sites in 12 out of 16 direct U vs DU comparisons. Shell length, shell volume, organic content of soft-tissues, and mechanical properties of the shell averaged consistently higher in mussels from U sites in both Current systems. In addition, total weight, soft-tissue weight, shell weight and shell thickness were all higher in the U site at the Humboldt system but had less consistent differences at the Iberian system. Altogether, most results supported our working hypothesis and indicate that U conditions support better fitted mussels. The few attributes that did not exhibit the expected U vs DU differences in the Iberian system suggest that local and species-specific differences also play a role on the attributes of these species. These results may also serve as a reference point for further studies addressing the influence of upwelling in these productive, critically important systems.

2023Journal article

Restricted access

Implications of warming on the morphometric and reproductive traits of the Green Crab, Carcinus maenas

Publication . N. Monteiro, J.; Bueno-Pardo, Juan; Pinto, Miguel; Pardal, Miguel A.; Martinho, Filipe; Miguel de Sousa Leitão, Francisco

Understanding the relationship between environmental temperature and the biological traits of organisms is fundamental to inferring the potential impacts of climate change. In the case of marine poikilotherm species, seawater temperature is one of the main driving forces of biological processes, with consequences at higher levels of organization such as population and ecosystem. In this study, we analysed differences in maximum carapace width (CWmax), size at maturation, relative size at maturation, and duration of the reproductive season for the green crab (Carcinus maenas) along a temperature gradient. An extensive review of bibliographic data was performed on studies published between 1962 and 2020, gathering C. maenas data from 55 different populations, spread over 20 degrees of latitude and 14.2 °C of sea surface temperature (SST). In addition, green crab data were collected at five different lagoons and estuaries along the continental Portuguese coast. The relationship between average SST and CWmax, age of maturation, reduction of size at maturation, and duration of egg bearing was analysed to understand the role of SST in driving variation in these C. maenas characteristics across a latitudinal gradient. There was a significant relationship between SST and CWmax for males and SST and CW of females at maturation, respectively. The results extrapolate for each local projected temperature increase caused by climate change and suggest an effect on the morphometric and reproductive traits of C. maenas across regions. These changes comprise an overall reduction in C. maenas body size, an enlargement of the reproductive season, a shortening in the duration of larval developmental time, and a decrease in the relative size of crabs at maturation. Secondary consequences on the fecundity and connectivity of populations are discussed.

2023-09-27Journal article

Open access

Eco-socio-economic vulnerability assessment of Portuguese fisheries to climate change

Publication . Pinto, Miguel; Albo-Puigserver, Maria; Bueno-Pardo, Juan; N. Monteiro, J.; Teodosio, Maria; Leitão, Francisco

Understanding ecological, and socio-economical vulnerabilities is fundamental towards developing and implementing regional adaptation strategies to climate change. The Portuguese coast is situated in a transition zone between temperate ecosystems to the north, and subtropical with Mediterranean characteristics, to the south, with distinct oceanographic regions (north, centre, and south), fish assemblages and socioeconomic realities of fish communities across these regions. We develop a framework to assess fisheries climate vulnerability in each port. A total of 32 ecological and socio-economic indicators were used to measure exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity of the fishing sector to climate change by combining i) environmental projections ii) information from fishing communities (surveys at ports) and iii) landings and socio-economic data from official statistics offices. The vulnerability to climate change across regions, and its expected impact on fishing fleets and local communities, was low-moderate. Such information will enable fishing communities and decision makers to respond to expected climate change effects and direct/indirect associated activities. This framework comprises background information for developing mandatory EU climate adaptation plans that aim to improve the resilience of fisheries socio-economic systems.

2023-10Journal article

Open access

Environmental conditions affect striped Red Mullet (Mullus surmuletus) artisanal fisheries

Publication . Miguel de Sousa Leitão, Francisco

The influence of environmental variables (oceanographic and climatic) on the catch rates of striped red mullet (Mullus surmuletus) by artisanal fishery was investigated using different time series models (Dynamic Factorial Analyses; Min-Max Factorial Analyses and Generalized Least Square models). Climatic and oceanographic survey data were collected at different areas of the Portuguese coast (Northwestern, Southwestern and South-Algarve) with distinct oceanographic regimes. Time series analyses reveal an effect of fishing effort in catch rates in Southwestern areas. Variability in M. surmuletus catch rates was associated to regional environmental multi-controls. Upwelling and westerly winds were the main drivers of catch rates variability across the three areas but the type of relationship varied among them. A consistent relationship between catch rates and environment factors was identified during the peak period of seasonal recruitment (spring to summer) in Southwest and South-Algarve coast, with Upwelling-summer and Sea surface temperature-spring affecting short term (lag 2 years) catch rates. In South-Algarve the increase in SST in summer, during peak of spawning, was correlated with the catch rate increase with a lag of two years. Environmental effect on catch rates reveals that fisheries management needs to accommodate the regional effect of environment variables on species biology to better define future assessment plans (catch limits).

2023-06-29Journal article

Open access