Abstract

The Caribbean is home to some of the most picturesque fishing locations in the world, and opportunities to catch some of the largest and most exciting sport fish in tidal flats, blue water, and reef ecosystems (Fedler, 2010). Thousands of anglers are drawn to the region each year, and their contributions to the tourism sector are an important source of economic development and livelihoods for local communities (Fedler, 2019). However, tropical ecosystems are experiencing rapid and accelerating changes in climate, including rising ocean temperatures, sea level rise, and increases in storm intensity. While some effects of climate change including habitat loss, species redistribution, and declines in productivity and survival of fishes may be unavoidable, some of the worst impacts could be buffered by adaptive management strategies and sustainable fisheries management practices (Free et al., 2020). To effectively prioritize adaptation and mitigation efforts, it is critical to use the best available information to project climate change impacts on recreational species and the fisheries and communities that depend on them.

PDF Preview