Climate Change in the U.S. Atlantic Affecting Recreational Fisheries

Abstract

This review provides an examination of the consequences of climate change in the coming century to saltwater sport fishing. We emphasized recreational fisheries in the U.S. Atlantic, but draw from the broader national and international literature where appropriate. Three themes were addressed: (1) climate change in the U.S. Atlantic, with a focus on increases in temperature, precipitation, sea level, the frequency and intensity of storms, and changes in ocean circulation; (2) the response of marine and estuarine fishes to climate change on an individual, population, and community-level; and (3) the response of marine and estuarine recreational fisheries to climate change. In addition, we provide strategies for the future of fisheries assessment and management in response to climate change.

Keywords:

• climate change
• Atlantic Ocean
• fish populations
• recreational fisheries

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank T. Ihde and R. Wingate for their contribution to this work. This work was supported by the American Sportfishing Association. The writing of this manuscript was stimulated by a student-led seminar focused on the consequences of climate change held at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory. This is Contribution No. 4248 of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory.