Coastal systems in flux: Perspectives on managing fish and fisheries in a multi-stressor world

ABSTRACT The move towards ecosystem-based fisheries management in coastal areas requires understanding ecosystem connections between biotic and abiotic factors and accounting for the effects of stressors on fish. The objectives of this contribution are to (1) highlight current progress in understanding how stressors affect fish and fisheries in coastal and estuarine environments, (2) reveal data gaps for current management, and (3) provide an overview of future research directions to help close these gaps. We add our perspectives and insights to the growing dialogue for coastal fisheries and ecosystem managers, emphasizing progress and gaps in field surveys incorporating habitats, laboratory experimental approaches, and ecosystem modeling. Although studies of the effects of some stressors on habitats, fish, and fisheries are available, few have effectively integrated multiple stressors. Expanding fisheries surveys both spatially and temporally to target multiple habitats and life stages can produce valuable insights into the potential effects of stressors (i.e., ocean warming, eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, and ocean acidification) on fisheries. In particular, the lack of surveys examining early life stages (i.e., embryos and larvae) of fish is a major concern for our understanding in the context of ecosystem-based fisheries management. Laboratory experiments have provided insights on how fish may respond to these stressors, both individually and collectively, but more research needs to be conducted, especially regarding sublethal effects. Ecosystem modeling has made great progress in simulating the effects of multiple environmental stressors on fish and fisheries, but uptake in stock assessment has been minimal. Ultimately, policymakers and ecosystem managers need to holistically integrate the effects of multiple stressors on coastal fisheries resources into management and policies.