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According to the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, defining and quantifying vulnerability is the starting point for developing strategies for adaptation to climate change. In this context, the VADAPES project has sought to develop an exhaustive vulnerability analysis of the Spanish fishing sector to provide scientific support for the design of adaptation measures. Combining the exploration of environmental and socio-economic risks, a cross-cutting approach is proposed to identify and reduce vulnerability and strengthen the resilience of marine ecosystems and their associated fishery resources.

The initiative also seeks to provide useful tools (risk tables and indicators) that respond to the demands of international organizations (such as the European Union and FAO) that demand comprehensive adaptation in socio-environmental systems. The environmental vulnerability modelling and its spatial analysis will make it possible to propose adaptation measures adjusted to the specificities of the sector at the subregional level (Atlantic and Mediterranean), which will be agreed with the main actors to determine priorities for action and establish planning time horizons.

This initiative is complementary to the LIFE INTEMARES project, coordinated by the Biodiversity Foundation.

The overall objective of the project has been to study the spatial patterns of vulnerability to climate change of fisheries, fishery resources and their associated ecosystems, thus providing the scientific basis for the development of climate change adaptation measures for the fisheries sector at the subregional scale, which reduce vulnerability and strengthen the resilience of the sector itself and of the marine ecosystems exploited.

The specific objectives were as follows:

• To quantify the vulnerability of different aspects of bento-demersal fisheries (relating to fish species that live near the seabed) to the effects of climate change on the continental shelves of Galicia-Cantabrian and the Peninsular Mediterranean.
• Design indicators that synthesize environmental vulnerability to anthropogenic impacts by integrating the attributes of the species of the bento-demersal community.
• To determine the spatial patterns of vulnerability of commercial species and bento-demersal communities to climate change, their possible synergies with other impacts (essentially, the impact of fisheries), and the effectiveness of possible adaptation strategies underway (marine protected areas).
• Agree with other relevant actors (especially the fisheries sector, managers, and NGOs) on climate change adaptation measures that cushion its impact on bento-demersal resources and the socio-economic sectors that depend on them, and that take into account regional contexts.
• Disseminate the results of the project to both specialized and non-specialized audiences (e.g. talks in schools, participation in events dedicated to the sea and ecology…).

• Risk analysis of bento-demersal fisheries and vulnerability to climate change at the regional level, in order to provide knowledge to policymakers to prioritise the allocation of adaptation funds.
• Development of environmental vulnerability indicators for fish communities.
• Analysis of the spatial patterns of vulnerability of ecological communities based on the vulnerability index developed.
• Generation of a document of 18 measures for adaptation to climate change agreed with relevant actors and based on an extensive bibliographic review. These measures have been of 4 different types: management measures, policy measures, livelihood measures and research measures.
• Dissemination of the results of the project to both the specialized public and the general public: sending press releases, publications on social networks, presentations at several international conferences, scientific-technical meetings and symposia, publication of 3 articles in the special issue of the ICES Journal of Marine Science, face-to-face informative talks among children, young people and adults, etc. The results have also been sent to different administrations and organizations, such as Fisheries Ministries of the Autonomous Communities, the Spanish Office for Climate Change (OECC), the Secretariat of Fisheries, various NGOs, guilds and federations of guilds and Local Fisheries Support Groups (GALP).

The VADAPES project has studied the spatial patterns of vulnerability to climate change of fisheries, fishery resources and their associated ecosystems, laying the scientific basis for the development of measures to adapt to the impacts of climate change in the fisheries sector at the regional scale.

To this end, the fishing system has been studied from a socio-ecological perspective in two representative areas of the northwest and peninsular Mediterranean. The sensitivity to climate change of these ecosystems and their biological communities has been characterized, investigating how their distributions change in relation to climate change behavior patterns.

Likewise, an indicator of sensitivity of bento-demersal biological communities has been developed based on characteristics of the life cycle, habitat and morphology of the main species of the community. This has made it possible to study spatial patterns and temporal variability of community sensitivity in response to the combined impact of global warming and fishing activity.

Climate vulnerability analyses of the fishing sector show that Spain is one of the countries with the most vulnerable fishing sector in Europe, despite the fact that recent studies at the subnational level point to intermediate values. The study also indicates that the Mediterranean region is generally more vulnerable than the North Atlantic region (mainly as a result of the lower adaptive capacity of the Mediterranean regions and their greater exposure), although there are important differences at the local scale that were previously unknown and that must be taken into account in order to implement the most effective adaptation measures in each case and avoid “maladaptation” processes.

On the other hand, the least vulnerable regions were observed in the Atlantic, in particular Cantabria, Asturias and the Basque Country. Galicia was an exception in the Atlantic, with intermediate vulnerability values associated with relatively higher exposure (a wide continental shelf) and very high fishing sensitivity. However, the results of each region are unique in their combination of dependence on the fisheries sector, socio-economic development and exposure to climate risks at the regional level. In addition, some regions would require more specific studies due to their biogeographic complexity. For example, Andalusia has significant geographical heterogeneity with part of its territory in the Mediterranean and part in the Atlantic, which requires more specific vulnerability studies for this region that consider its uniqueness.

In conclusion, the analyses have shown that the communities with the least adaptive capacities were the Balearic Islands and Murcia. In addition, a different pattern was detected between the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions, with a lower capacity for adaptation in the Mediterranean region, mainly due to the lower number of landing ports and lower landings of species of low commercial value. All this shows, according to the entity, the urgency of regional planning for each Autonomous Community that ensures the adaptation of the fishing sector, and that goes beyond the expected large-scale policies that can limit flexibility and compromise its effectiveness.

Finally, based on an extensive literature review and consultative processes with key agents of the fisheries-marine ecosystems system, a document of adaptation measures has been produced, consisting of:

• Management measures: adaptive spatial and temporal planning; diversification of fishing activity patterns with respect to exploited species; interaction between different fishing sectors and interests; limitation of economic incentives to fisheries to the conservation status of the resources exploited.
• Policy measures: active participation of fishers in resource management and decision-making; public investment in awareness and dissemination.
• Livelihood measures: diversification of livelihoods and women’s access to the labour market; improvements in working conditions.
• Research measures: investment in research for the adaptation of fishing operations; research and monitoring of the productivity and distribution of stocks and their relationship with environmental conditions.