Understanding Socio-ecological Vulnerability of China’s Fisheries to Climate Change

China is a large producer and exporter of seafood products, accounting for 15% of the world’s total catch. However, recent studies have emphasized that climate change is becoming a major disrupter of China’s coastal ecosystems, which may lead to sever social, ecological, and economic impacts. It’s unclear just how sensitive China’s commercial fisheries are to climate change and whether current management efforts are sufficient to address impacts on fisheries productivity. To better understand potential vulnerabilities to climate change and equip managers with evidence-based solutions, the Lenfest Ocean Program is supporting Dr. Yong Chen and Dr. Yunzhou Li of Stony Book University to conduct an interdisciplinary research project that will evaluate the risks to China’s fishing industry from climate change.

Researchers will work with an Advisory Committee and the China-based research institutions, the Marine Fisheries Partnership and China Fisheries Learning Network, to conduct a national-scale ecological and socioeconomic vulnerability analysis of China’s domestic fisheries to climate change. Their results will be communicated with key stakeholders and policymakers and summarized in a white paper distilling lessons learned and recommendations for developing climate-resilient fisheries in China.