Abstract
This PhD thesis examines the adaptive capacity of Mediterranean fisheries to environmental and socio-economic risks using a combination of large-scale assessments and localized studies. The Mediterranean Sea is a biodiversity hotspot with over 17,000 species, 25% of which are endemic. However, it faces unparalleled anthropogenic pressures such as global warming, pollution, habitat destruction degradation and overfishing as the most impactful direct driver of change according to the IPCC. In this context, our aim is to understand how fisheries adapt to environmental and socio-economic changes, starting with Mediterranean-scale assessments and moving to specific localized studies. In Chapter 1, a Mediterranean Climate Risk Assessment (CRA) is conducted using trait-based indicators for 100 species of fish and macroinvertebrates to identify critical areas needing urgent action. The CRA combines species distribution models, biological traits, and socio-economic parameters, relying on standardized datasets to provide a cohesive overview of regional fisheries. This large-scale study measures hazard, exposure and vulnerability, highlighting contrasted patterns between northern and southern Mediterranean countries. The northern part of the basin seems most at risk when only considering Species Hazard. However, when incorporating socio-economic parameters, southern countries stand out as the most at risk. Finally, we underscore the difficulties in thoroughly assessing adaptive capacity reliably at such a large scale due to the limitations in granularity and information of macro-indicators. Chapter 2 focuses on adaptation to a short-term unpredictable crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic. We use Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery to monitor changes in ship traffic in French Mediterranean waters during COVID-19 lockdown. With a reduction of nearly 10% of vessel detections compared to previous years, our study is consistent with Ifremer fishers’ surveys with declared data. We explore the potential of the SAR methodology to detect shifts in fishing behavior due to short-term crises and show promising results despite major limitations. Chapter 3 employs participatory approaches, involving local fishers through semi-structured interviews and workshops to gather qualitative data on their adaptive responses. Our findings reveal significant differences in adaptive strategies between short- and long-term crises. Long-term strategies emphasize flexibility and learning over mere capital. Nevertheless, flexibility remains crucial for all types of crises, raising the question of the balance between flexibility for fishers and structured fisheries management. Participatory methods challenge preconceived notions of adaptive capacity and offer a more nuanced and localized understanding than large-scale, capital-based assessments. We integrate these findings, showing how large-scale assessments provide an overview of risk and adaptive capacity, while localized studies offer detailed insights into adaptive dynamics. The thesis stresses the need for a holistic approach that combines different scales of study to fully understand and enhance the adaptive capacity of Mediterranean fisheries. It also highlights the importance of stakeholder involvement in research to bridge the gap between scientific findings and practical management actions. In summary, this work advances our understanding of Mediterranean fisheries' adaptive capacity by providing a comprehensive view of how fisheries can adapt to environmental and socio-economic changes, emphasizing the need for stakeholder involvement and improved data integration for effective management and sustainability efforts.