Incorporating climate change into inland fisheries management and policy development: a systematic review

Abstract

The impact of climate change on inland fisheries has received critical attention in science and policy cycles. Despite this attention, the consequences of these impacts are difficult to predict due to the complex dynamics of these systems, their inherent uncertainties and the long timescales upon which change occurs. Additionally, inland fisheries are often influenced by multiple external drivers which are difficult to identify and account for in assessing and predicting change. Despite a growing body of literature on climate change impacts on fisheries, few comprehensive syntheses exist. This thesis applies a systematic literature review to answer the question whether climate change is incorporated into inland fisheries management and policy development. The review found that despite the growing attention, the literature in the field could still be described as insufficient. The review revealed that in general studies did not integrate climate change into management or decision-making, and even fewer studies attempted to identify adaptive options. Integrated approaches or responses that incorporate multiple drivers of change and account for multiple sources of uncertainty are needed for policy makers and stakeholders. The complexities of these socio-ecological systems require deliberate integration of climate change in the management of inland fisheries.