Risk of coastal acidification in Galicia’s S-fisheries system

Climate change and local pressures are severely impacting estuarine coastal regions, generating cascading impacts on social and ecological systems. Small-Scale Fisheries are facing major challenges that threaten the livelihoods of coastal communities. Shellfish harvesting, a culturally and economically important activity in Galicia (NW Spain) is currently undergoing challenges related to abrupt changes in environmental conditions driven by climate and anthropogenic pressures. This study assesses the risk associated with coastal acidification in Galicia’s shellfishing sector. Specifically, it applies a spatially explicit climate risk assessment focused on shellfish production zones in two systems within the Rías Bixas: Muros-Noia and Vigo. Risk was measured by integrating indicators of hazard, exposure and vulnerability at a locally-relevant spatial scale. Local knowledge from key actors in Galicias’ fisheries management system was incorporated in the analysis to contextualize the social indicators within the current state of the sector. The results revealed the shellfish banks most impacted by acidification and identified a gendered risk imbalance. This study contributes critical insights to inform adaptive and equitable management strategies for shellfisheries in Galicia and beyond.