Workshop Goals

Participants will inform one another of their respective research activities, and identify and discuss the key methodological challenges associated with modeling coupled social-ecological responses to climate change in marine environments. Specific examples from research being undertaken in the Barents Sea region within the DAMOCLES project will be presented and discussed, and will be complemented by presentations from other partners and regions.

Based on ongoing research, participants will attempt to identify some of the salient linkages between climate variability and change, and changes in the distribution and productivity of key marine fish species and how these changes can be connected to shifts in harvesting practices and social and economic welfare in fishery-dependent regions.

Questions to be addressed at the workshop include:

  • What are the key variables that should be considered for quantifying the relationship between climate variability and change, and changes in single fish species (e.g. cod) in the Barents Sea region/other regions?
  • What are the key variables that can be applied to quantify the relationship between climate-change induced changes in fish stocks, and fishing activities targeting those stocks?
  • What types of measures can be used to assess the relationship between fishing activities and social and economic welfare at local, regional and national levels?
  • What are the important non-climatic elements (e.g. regulatory and resource management components) to include in this type of modeling effort, and how should they be represented?
  • Is simplification of complex systems possible, given the experience of experts within specific disciplines?
  • What data do we need, and what are the challenges?
  • What are the most important methodological gaps, and how can we address them?
  • How can the different methodological approaches be combined in a fruitful way?
  • Are there common challenges across programmes and disciplines that could be resolved through cooperation?
  • What are the key areas for future research collaboration within the field of 'human impacts' in SEARCH, DAMOCLES and beyond?