Different species respond differently to climate change impacts, and this can affect priority setting and management. For this reason, we strongly suggest that information about species’ individual vulnerabilities to climate change also be considered during this prioritization process. Climate vulnerability can be estimated with a formal species-by-species Climate Vulnerability Analysis (e.g., see Method 3 under Step 1), or, if that level of data is unavailable, it can be inferred from an understanding of system-level climate impacts and a more qualitative thought exercise to consider each species’ likely tolerance of/ adaptability to these system changes (e.g., see the questions provided in the Appendix to the Climate Impact Profile Template – Method 1, Step 1). Species that are determined to be the most vulnerable to climate changes should be highlighted at this step for further monitoring and evaluation. These species should be evaluated with the climate-relevant Performance Indicators that are tied to Climate Resilience Goals (see Step 7). Tables 3a and 3b provide examples of this process.
STEP 6, TABLE 3a | INCORPORATING CLIMATE VULNERABILITY INTO PRIORITIZATION MATRIX
In Table 3a, the three species highlighted in red (the black grouper, silk snapper, and leopard grouper) have been identified as highly vulnerable to climate change. These species should therefore be monitored for indications of expected climate-driven impacts, and climate-relevant management guidance should be developed to be responsive to identified changes in these metrics (see Steps 7 and 8). In the example above, the two species that fell into the Low and Medium Priority cells based on their current status and vulnerability to the fishery (black grouper and silk snapper) may not be elevated for additional fishery assessments at Step 9, but they should still be monitored for changes in climate change-related Performance Indicators. Conversely, the leopard grouper was already identified as a High Priority species based on current status and vulnerability to the fishery. This species should therefore be evaluated with the additional Step 9 assessments to better understand the current impact of the fishery, in addition to evaluating it against climate change-related Performance Indicators.
STEP 6, TABLE 3b | INCORPORATING CLIMATE VULNERABILITY INTO PRIORITIZATION MATRIX WITH MANAGEMENT BASKETS (FOR MULTISPECIES FISHERIES)
In Table 3b, our hypothetical multispecies fishery, species highlighted in yellow were selected by stakeholders as the representative species for their baskets in the previous part of this process. Species highlighted in red have been identified as especially vulnerable to climate change (and should thus be monitored for indications of these impacts), and species highlighted in purple fall into both categories – they were identified as basket representatives by stakeholders and they are likely to be especially vulnerable to climate change. These two species (silk snapper and leopard grouper) should thus be evaluated with the additional Step 9 assessments to better understand current impacts of the fishery, as well as monitored for changes in climate-related Performance Indicators (see Step 7).