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Effects of climate change on coral grouper (Plectropomus spp.) and possible adaptation options

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Abstract

Global climate change is increasingly considered one of the major threats to tropical coastal fisheries, potentially undermining important revenue and food security provided by coral reef ecosystems. While there has been significant and increasing work on understanding specific effects of climate change on coral reef fishes, few studies have considered large-bodied fisheries target species, limiting understanding of the effects of climate change on tropical fisheries. This review focuses on coral grouper (Plectropomus spp., and mainly Plectropomus leopardus), which are heavily fished throughout the Indian and Pacific oceans, and represent an exemplar group to assess potential effects of climate change on coral reef fisheries. In experimental studies, P. leopardus appear to be extremely sensitive to increasing ocean temperature, exhibiting declines in survivorship, aerobic scope and activity with relatively moderate increases in temperature. As such, ongoing ocean warming may jeopardize the catchability of coral grouper and sustainability of reef-based fisheries, especially at low latitudes. Notably, a significant portion of wild stocks of P. leopardus are already exposed to temperatures (≥30 °C) that have been shown to compromise individual performance and body condition. While there are considerable knowledge gaps in predicting effects of global climate change on coral grouper, such as their capacity to avoid, acclimate or adapt to changes in local environmental conditions, current information suggests that there is cause for concern. As such, we take the formative steps to outline both ecological and socioeconomic adaptations that could reduce vulnerability of coral reef fisheries to climate impacts on stocks of coral grouper, using a linked socio-economic framework.

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Acknowledgements

The impetus for this review came from workshops funded by the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF), with explicit research on effects of climate change on coral grouper funded by Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and a Queensland Government Smart Futures Fellowship awarded to MP. GP was supported by an ARC Future Fellowship. This manuscript benefitted greatly from insights provided by Howard Choat, Tony Ayling, Michele Heupel, and John Kung, and we are indebted to the all researchers involved in the Effects of Line Fishing project (1993–2006), which significantly advanced understanding of coral grouper biology and fisheries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia

    Morgan S. Pratchett, Ashley J. Frisch, Andrew S. Hoey, Vanessa Messmer, Philip L. Munday, Molly Scott & David H. Williamson

  2. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, QLD, Australia

    Darren S. Cameron, Ashley J. Frisch & Rachel Pears

  3. School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Jennifer Donelson

  4. College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia

    Jennifer Donelson, Andrew Tobin & Renae Tobin

  5. College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

    Louisa Evans

  6. CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    Alistair J. Hobday

  7. CSIRO Land and Water Flagship, Townsville, QLD, Australia

    Nadine A. Marshall

  8. Institue for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, and Centre for Marine Socioecology, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    Gretta Pecl

  9. Northern Fisheries Centre, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Cairns, QLD, Australia

    Adam Reynolds

  10. Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia

    Andrew Tobin, Renae Tobin & David J. Welch

  11. C2O Fisheries, Cairns, QLD, Australia

    David J. Welch

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Correspondence to Morgan S. Pratchett.

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Pratchett, M.S., Cameron, D.S., Donelson, J. et al. Effects of climate change on coral grouper (Plectropomus spp.) and possible adaptation options. Rev Fish Biol Fisheries 27, 297–316 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-016-9455-9

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