Small-scale fisheries are characterised by the use of vessels less than 12 meters in length, which generally operate close to the coast. Although its production scale is limited compared to industrial fishing, they have a widespread presence in coastal areas around the world and at the same time are a source low-carbon impact protein when compared with other animal proteins.
In the European Union, small-scale fisheries account for more than 75% of the active fishing fleet, with around 41,000 vessels in operation. While a significant proportion is concentrated in the Mediterranean which accounts for 42% in economic value, these fleets are present in all European seas. Their importance is not limited to the economic activity but they also play an important role in coastal communities’ culture and employment. This dependence on local marine resources makes these communities vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Climate change and its effects on marine ecosystems
Climate change is altering the physical and chemical conditions of the oceans, with rising sea surface temperatures, changing circulation patterns, ocean acidification and increasingly frequent extreme events directly influencing marine ecosystems. The years 2023 and 2024 recorded the highest average sea surface temperatures since records began according to data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. This warming has direct implications for the distribution, growth and survival of fish species. Many species tend to move to areas with more favourable thermal conditions, either in latitude or depth. However, not all species have the same capacity to adapt and given that some species depend on specific habitats at key stages of their life cycle, such as shallow coastal areas or seagrass beds that provide shelter and breeding areas. When these habitats are affected by warming or environmental degradation, the ability of populations to sustain themselves is reduced.
Climate-driven risks for small-scale fisheries
According to the OECD Review of Fisheries (2025) projections indicate that climate change will have a negative impact on global fishery productivity with estimated catches declining between 3.5% and 24% by the end of this century, depending on the emissions scenario and the region analysed. Most fishing areas will experience reductions in fish abundance although some high-latitude regions may experience temporary increases in some commercial stocks as a result of species shifting to colder waters. However, these potential gains do not offset the losses observed in tropical and temperate regions, where a significant portion of small-scale fisheries are concentrated. In addition to the reduction in fish numbers, changes in fish size and reproductive success are also expected as a consequence of thermal stress and the decline in available food, especially plankton, which is also affected by the progressive increase in acidification which has consequences on calcifying organisms that form the basis of the marine food chain. For small-scale fisheries, which often depend on sensitive coastal ecosystems and species with short life cycles, these changes can quickly translate into lower and less valuable catches.
Changing species composition and adaptation challenges
Another significant effect of climate change is the change in the composition of species caught. In many regions, there is a decline in species adapted to cold waters and an increase in species associated with higher temperatures. This process poses additional challenges for fishers, as the new species may not have the same commercial value or may require different fishing techniques. In addition, for small-scale fleets, the ability to adapt to these changes is limited.
Strengthening support for small-scale fisheries in Europe
In the European Union, these problems have led to a growing recognition of the need to strengthen institutional support for these fishers. The authorities have identified that current systems for allocating fishing opportunities do not always adequately reflect the new risks associated with climate change or the specific conditions of small-scale coastal fisheries. New guidelines are being promoted to improve governance, increase transparency and ensure more equitable access to fishery resources facilitating their adaptation to a changing marine environment.
The FARCLIMATE response to small-scale fisheries vulnerability
The FARCLIMATE project responds to the vulnerabilities faced by small-scale fisheries by analysing climate change risks across European regions and identifying locally relevant adaptation measures. Through the establishment of case studies in least 20 regions, including those dependent on coastal fisheries FARCLIMATE will support the development of tailored resilience strategies along stakeholders through a Living Labs approach.
Author of this article – David Salcines.