Cline and colleagues analysed spatiotemporal datasets covering 5000 km of popular trout rivers from 1983 to 2017, finding that fishing pressure was four times higher in cold-water sections of rivers than adjacent cool-water sections of rivers, with fisher spending in cold-water sections generating US$500,000 km−1 year−1 and cool-water sections generating US$60,000 km−1 year−1. Overall, 17% and 35% of the current cold-water habitats are projected to be warmer than 18 °C (the threshold for trout thermal extremes) by 2040 and 2080, respectively, with some river sections possibly experiencing habitat losses in excess of 80% by 2080. The combined effects of cold-water habitat loss and increased frequency and severity of drought on fishing pressure could result in 64% declines in fishing river sections by 2040 and 76% declines by 2080. The cumulative impacts of these environmental changes in fishing spending across these rivers could put a total of US$103 million year−1 and US$192 million year−1 at risk by 2040 and 2080, respectively.
Resident fishers were less likely to diversify their fishing locations compared with tourist fishers, meaning management actions may differ in impact for resident fishers compared with tourist fishers, who appeared to be more flexible in seeking out optimal fishing conditions. Cline and colleagues’ data show that holistic freshwater fisheries climate adaptation requires an interdisciplinary approach that considers the socioeconomic impacts of tourism whilst supporting resident fishers who rely on local fish stocks for their wellbeing and livelihoods.
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