A Dynamic Pathway to Transition from Vulnerable to Resilient Fisheries Social Ecological Systems: A Transdisciplinary Case Study of the U.S. Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery.

Berger, Halle¹*, Lisa Colburn², Shannon Meseck², Samantha Siedlecki¹, Catherine Matassa¹, Dvora Hart², David Bethoney³, Susan Inglis³, Catherine Alves⁴, ¹University of Connecticut, Department of Marine Sciences, ²NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, ³Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation, ⁴ECS Federal, LLC, in support of NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Dynamic social ecological systems (SES) built around fishing stocks with potential for sustainable catch and flexibility to respond to environmental change are key to achieving multiple U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. Atlantic sea scallops have demonstrated the potential for sustainable yield, but are increasingly threatened by effects of ocean acidification (OA) and warming. As calcifiers with limited mobility and high revenue potential, this fishery is particularly suited to a transdisciplinary approach combining coastal fishing community assessments with ocean models, sea scallop physiological response, and population dynamics. The vulnerability and resilience of fishing communities to the effects of OA and warming is dependent on their adaptive capacity in relation to social and environmental exposure and sensitivity factors. In the Northeast U.S., the contribution of sea scallops to total regional landed value has steadily increased over recent decades to more than $500 million per year. As a result, the dependence of the regional fisheries SES has shifted to this species. This dependence, and the predicted shift in sea scallop distribution and biomass decline, make this study particularly relevant. Here, we provide regional projections of changes within sea scallop fishing zones based on ocean models and physiological assessment. These projections have been combined with social indicators of fishing community vulnerability and reliance to structure workshops with fishery managers and fishing-dependent communities. The workshops assist stakeholders to explore scenarios and become more resilient to future change. Challenges, lessons learned, and next steps toward achieving a transdisciplinary understanding of SES vulnerability in this fishery are explored.