ECOAZUL-MED climate service tool: supporting aquaculture, fisheries and coastal tourism in the Spanish Mediterranean coasts

The Mediterranean region is considered a climate change hotspot because it provides an amplified warm climate signal and is highly favorable to the development of extreme weather events. In the coming decades, climate models project an increase in the frequency and/or intensity of these events. These factors make Mediterranean coasts densely populated, such as the Spanish eastern coast, prone to suffer negative socioeconomic impacts. In this respect, blue economy, defined as those economic activities related to seas and oceans, which represent a key source of growth, incomes and employment in the region, is very exposed to climate conditions, with potential concomitant economic losses. Thus, the implementation of adaptation measures to ensure the sustainable development of the blue economy is of vital importance in the current context of climate change. Adaptation strategies must be built upon scientific knowledge regarding the future climate signal which allows for effective policies and practices by public administrations and entities that operate in implied sectors.  

In particular, aquaculture, fisheries and coastal tourism are relevant sectors of the blue economy for their contribution to social and economic development on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. The ECOAZUL-MED project offers, for the first time, a public climate service tool which provides relevant climate data for the management of the aquaculture, fishing and coastal tourism in the Spanish Mediterranean coast for the next 40 years. Data offered comes from the analysis of an ensemble of regional, air-sea coupled simulations from the Med-CORDEX initiative and is available for two emission scenarios. The tool provides oceanic and atmospheric information, including extremes with the potential to cause large negative socio-economic impacts (e.g., heat waves, heavy precipitation). Also, the tool is accompanied by documentation created over the project’s life e.g., reports on socio-economic impacts of climate change on the sectors, policy recommendations for the different sectors, among others. Our tool will support companies, public administration and other agents in decision-making processes regarding adaptation to climate conditions. The tool has been created using a comprehensive approach which combines quantitative research e.g., climate data analysis, and qualitative research, through which a wide range of stakeholders have been involved in different participatory activities since the beginning of the project. This co-creative, user-driven approach is key to ensure that the tool is usable and is adapted to the expectations of potential end users. In this work we will present the ECOAZUL-MED project and related climate service tool, and will provide details about the methodology followed for its creation. Practical examples of how the tool could be used to support decision or policy making will be given.