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05/12/2025
Life eCOadapt50 publishes a report on how climate change affects the Catalan fishing sector
Climate change is already rapidly altering the physical-chemical and biological characteristics of the Mediterranean Sea. For this reason, Life eCOadapt50 commissioned a report from the Institute of Marine Sciences on how climate change affects the Catalan fishing sector. The study was presented and discussed at the Living Lab of GALP Costa Brava on Wednesday, November 19 in L’Estartit and serves as a starting point for designing and proposing adaptation measures.

Infographic of the main effects of climate change on the Catalan fishing sector. Author: Institute of Marine Sciences.

Climate change is rapidly modifying the physical-chemical characteristics (temperature, currents, oxygen, pH,...) and biological characteristics (primary production, species distribution, trophic chains,...) of the Mediterranean Sea, and will do so increasingly in the coming years. Therefore, it is crucial that all stakeholders in the marine field understand these changes as well as possible, in order to adopt effective adaptation measures.

The document simply describes the direct and indirect effects of climate change on the Catalan fishing sector —understood as marine fishing and aquaculture—. To do so, it analyzes 12 effects that are known to be relevant for the sector. It can also be consulted on this website.

Each effect is presented in a brief specific sheet that includes an explanation of the phenomenon, a set of examples and illustrative data, and scientific references supporting the information provided for those who wish to delve deeper. The sheets are complemented by a series of annexes with contextual and territorial data. To prepare the sheets and illustrate the effects, scientific evidence focused on the Mediterranean was used, with special emphasis on the Catalan coast.

Four of the twelve main changes identified directly affect target fishing species, and eight affect the fishing sector through changes in the marine ecosystem. The four directly linked to target species are: species displacement, changes in survival, changes in growth, and changes in seasonality.

The eight effects linked to the marine ecosystem with direct implications for the fishing sector are: the arrival of new species, the deterioration of vulnerable ecosystems of special fishing interest, sudden changes in the presence of non-target species that affect fishing, the emergence or intensification of diseases, changes associated with extreme events, changes in land-sea inputs and marine currents, possible unexpected structural changes in the marine environment favored by climate change, and the implications of other economic activities taking place in the sea associated with climate change.

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