Assessing the Vulnerability of Fish and Invertebrate Species in a Changing Climate

The methodology provides fishery managers, scientists, and others with information they can use as they consider what additional scientific information is needed and how to adapt management strategies for those fish species. This includes information about which species in the region are most vulnerable or adaptable to environmental impacts of climate change. 

The Fish Species Climate Vulnerability Assessment is specifically designed to help:

1. Identify which species or stocks may be most vulnerable with changing climate and ocean conditions;
2. Identify what additional information is needed to understand and address these risks;
3. Provide a basis for considering what actions might be taken to reduce fish species vulnerability;
4. Identify where more information is needed to understand, track, and respond to fish species vulnerability.  That information can then be used to help prioritize research, monitoring and modeling efforts.

The results are intended to help guide additional science to better understand possible climate impacts on fish species or stocks and assist fisheries decision makers in considering how to prepare for and respond to climate-related changes.