Final Report: Evaluating Future Effects of Climate and Land Use on Fisheries Production in Inland Lakes
Dates
Publication Date
2019
Citation
David Bunnell, Mark W Rogers, and Yu-Chun Kao, 2019, Final Report: Evaluating Future Effects of Climate and Land Use on Fisheries Production in Inland Lakes: .
Summary
In one of the largest compilations of inland-lake-fisheries time series to date (31 lakes spanning five continents from 1970 to 2014), we sought to identify generalities regarding how inland fisheries respond to forecasted climate and land use changes. Perhaps not surprisingly given the diversity of inland lakes and fisheries, we reported that fish catches can either respond positively or negatively to these forecasted changes, through a variety of pathways. One key factor that positively correlated with vulnerability to a 25% reduction in fish catch was lower access to clean water. If future research can further demonstrate this linkage, it would provide a strong argument to policy makers that investments in clean water not only benefit [...]
Summary
In one of the largest compilations of inland-lake-fisheries time series to date (31 lakes spanning five continents from 1970 to 2014), we sought to identify generalities regarding how inland fisheries respond to forecasted climate and land use changes. Perhaps not surprisingly given the diversity of inland lakes and fisheries, we reported that fish catches can either respond positively or negatively to these forecasted changes, through a variety of pathways. One key factor that positively correlated with vulnerability to a 25% reduction in fish catch was lower access to clean water. If future research can further demonstrate this linkage, it would provide a strong argument to policy makers that investments in clean water not only benefit human health and well-being but also fisheries production and harvest.
