Abstract
This repository is intended to support the project Climate change drives shifts in straddling fish stocks in the world’s ocean.
Abstract
Climate-induced changes are particularly challenging for fisheries targeting fish populations shared between Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and the high seas, known as straddling stocks. Here, we combine multiple datasets and ecosystem modeling to identify the presence of straddling stocks worldwide and consider the management implications of climate change-driven shifts. We identify 379 straddling stocks across 76 species, including both highly migratory and less mobile species. Our results suggest that 33% of stocks are projected to have significant shifts between EEZs and the high seas as early as 2030, while more than 50% could do so by 2050, regardless of the climate change scenario. More stocks are expected to shift towards the high seas, and highly migratory stocks are projected to shift across Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). Coastal states and RFMO members require to revise governance frameworks to support sustainable and equitable adaptation to shifting stocks. Developing such strategies requires cooperation between management bodies within EEZs and the high seas.