Social-ecological vulnerability to climate change in small-scale fisheries managed under spatial property rights systems

Small-scale fisheries (SSFs), which provide an important source of livelihood for many coastal communities, are at risk from climate change. Benthic organisms are likely to be particularly affected by the impacts of climate change due to their low spatial mobility, which limits their capacity for adaptation. Therefore, SSFs that target sedentary resources ("S-fisheries") will potentially be among the most impacted types of fishery. The pathways of such impacts can be studied in an integrated approach by means of social-ecological vulnerability assessment. The stalked barnacle (Pollicipes pollicipes) fishery, one of the most important S-fisheries in Galicia (NW Spain), represents a complex social-ecological system rooted within the culture of the region. Along Galician coast, this benthic resource is co-managed by the territorial use rights in fisheries (TURFs) scheme. The vulnerability assessment involves ranking TURF systems according to the exposure of the resource to climate hazards, the sensitivity of dependent people and the capacity of the system to adapt to the impacts. After analyzing 26 stalked barnacle TURFs (79% of all Galician TURFs), we identified the most vulnerable zones (Muxia and O Pindo), as indicated by high levels of ecological vulnerability and social sensitivity and low adaptive capacity. We discuss different ways of increasing the adaptive capacity of TURFs based on local knowledge and literature reviews. Vulnerability assessment represents a powerful tool that can be used to help policy-makers develop adaptation strategies needed at different time scales, ultimately contributing towards better informed, sustainable and efficient fisheries management.