CERES programme activities and results are provided in 24 region- and sector-specific “Storylines” (see ceresproject.eu).
•Projected the physical and biogeochemical impacts of CC on European marine and inland waters using an intermediate (4.5) and a worst-case (8.5) IPCC Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) greenhouse gas emission scenarios. In the latter (‘RCP8.5’) scenario, region-specific warming of aquatic habitats is between 2.0 and 4.0 °C by 2100. Decreases in the productivity at the base of the aquatic food web are expected. Rainfall and river discharge are projected to decrease in southern Europe and increase across the north, though there are local differences.
•Created four PESTEL (political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal) CC scenarios for both European fisheries and aquaculture sectors and regionalized them using stakeholder perceptions. These four CERES scenarios enable consistent exploration of the bioeconomic impacts of CC within each sector.
•Engaged stakeholders using various techniques (questionnaires, face-to-face interviews) obtaining region- and sector-specific perspectives on the risks and opportunities of CC needed for qualitative as well as quantitative analyses.
•Reviewed the direct effects of CC on 37 high-value fishery and aquaculture species identifying gaps in knowledge (e.g. on specific life stages, how factors interact to affect the growth and survival) as well as cause-effect relationships.
•Analysed long-term, historical data on valuable fisheries targets (12 stocks / groups). In one third of the cases, fishing as opposed to climate appeared to be the major driver of changes in abundance (stock size) or fish size structure.
•Projected the future biological impacts of CC on European fisheries targets (12 models, > 40 stocks) including changes in productivity and/or distribution. Across European regions, both CC “winners” and “losers” are expected. Estimates from different types of models often agree adding confidence to these findings.
•Estimated the profitability of a variety of fleets (mixed- or single-species demersal and pelagic fisheries) across five regional seas using four CC scenarios. At mid-century (2050), changes in fuel and fish prices are stronger drivers of profitability than the biological impacts of CC.
•Ranked the CC risks of the fisheries within 26 European nations including 123 species (523 stocks) and 404 fleet segments. While a wide diversity of climate risk exists, smaller vessels and dredgers tend to have higher risk due to the biological features of their stock, their current profitability, and diversity of their catch.
•Examined the indirect effects of CC on the aquaculture sector including requirements for advanced warning of harmful jellyfish and algal blooms. Produced maps of the mid-century (2050) and late-century (2100) changes in the risks of disease from pathogens infecting fish and shellfish.
•Performed region- and farm-specific projections of the direct (temperature) and indirect (disease) impacts of CC on growth performance of species (5 finfish and 3 shellfish) and whole-farm production (> 10 regions/sites). CC impact is region- and species-specific ranging from strongly positive (for some finfish) to negative (some shellfish).
•Created 10 species- and region-specific ‘Typical Farms’ and calculated the economic consequences of the four CERES scenarios. Although profitability in 2050 is driven by scenario-specific assumptions of fish and feed prices, present-day profit margin is a good predictor of future profitability.
•Ranked the vulnerability of the European aquaculture sector based on physiological tolerance of 9 key species and national economic data for 22 nations. Coastal shellfish and carp pond culture are vulnerable due to a lack of production control. Several Mediterranean countries are vulnerable due to a relatively high economic reliance on aquaculture combined with less advanced climate adaptation planning.
•Projected CC impacts on the global trade of fishmeal and fish oil, a critical economic link between the aquaculture and fisheries sectors. The price of fishmeal and fish oil is highest at 2050 in the worst-case CC scenario (RCP8.5). Much larger national economic impacts (additional 30 to 100% losses or gains) are possible if impacts to supply-side industries are considered.
•Participated in > 390 outreach events including 70 regional, national and/or international stakeholder (industry) events, 33 policy events and >280 science events and, informing various stakeholders from industry, policy and science. Activities forged strong links to national and international CC programs helping to ensure the delivery of bottom-up (industry led) and top-down (policy) solutions for the European fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
