FishSES investigates the relationships between ecological and social systems in fisheries social-ecological systems (SES). The working group focuses on understanding how ecological and social tipping points influence the resilience and adaptive capacity of fisheries. Using small-scale fisheries in the North Sea and Baltic Sea as case studies, FishSES examines how ecological changes, such as fish stock declines and climate-driven ecosystem shifts, interact with social dynamics, governance responses, and adaptation processes.

FishSES combines ecological and social science approaches through three main activities:

1.  a scoping review of social-ecological tipping points in fisheries SES;
2.  comparative analyses of existing empirical data to investigate ecological change and adaptation strategies in North Sea and Baltic Sea fisheries; and
3.  interdisciplinary workshops with experts to identify adaptation options and co-develop plausible pathways towards resilient fisheries SES futures.

Through this integrated approach, FishSES contributes to a better understanding of fisheries resilience and supports sustainable adaptation in changing marine social-ecological systems.

The overall objective of FishSES is to identify ecological and social tipping points and develop potential adaptation pathways for North Sea and Baltic Sea fisheries SES to enhance social and ecological resilience in the long-term. Specifically, the working group aims to:

1.  determine social-ecological tipping points and their connectedness between the social and ecological systems;
2. identify fisheries SES adaptation potentials through the empirical study of social-ecological tipping points; and
3. develop resilience-focused adaptation pathways and ecosystem-based management recommendations for fisheries in the North Sea and Baltic Sea.

• Prof. Dr. Christian Möllmann
• Prof. Dr. Beate Ratter
• Dr. Alexandra Blöcker
• Dr. Martin Döring