In Canada, DFO assessments have reported a high probability of significant climate change impacts in all marine and freshwater basins, with effects increasing over time (DFO 2012a, 2012b), while climate projections indicate that ecosystems and fisheries will be disrupted into the foreseeable future (Lotze et al. 2019b; Bryndum-Buchholz et al. 2020; Tittensor et al. 2021; Boyce et al. 2022c). Despite its imminence, climate change is infrequently factored into Canada’s primary marine conservation strategies, such as spatial planning (O’Regan et al. 2021) or fisheries management (Boyce et al. 2021a; Pepin et al. 2022). The Climate Risk Index for Biodiversity was developed to assess climate risk for marine species in a quantitative, spatially explicit, and scalable way to better support climate-informed decision-making. It has been used to evaluate climate risks for marine life globally (Boyce et al. 2022a), regionally (Lewis et al. 2023), and for fisheries (Boyce et al. 2022c). Here, we describe how the CRIB framework was used to estimate climate risks for 2,959 species and ecosystems across the Canadian marine territory under contrasting emission scenarios. Using Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) as an example, we describe the approach’s data, methods, and outputs to transparently and tangibly show how it quantifies risk and can inform and support climate-informed decision-making in Canada. Climate risk estimates for species and ecosystems accompany the report. Cite this data as: Boyce, D., Greenan, B., Shackell, N. Data of: A climate risk index for marine life across the Canadian exclusive economic zone. Published: January 2024. Ocean Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/2a0b3298-2bcc-49a0-a745-af56ed0462f1

This study assessed the relative vulnerability of Torres Strait fisheries by conducting a vulnerability assessment on 15 key fishery species. A structured semi-quantitative approach for the vulnerability assessments was applied, based on a widely-adopted framework that includes the elements of Exposure, Sensitivity and Adaptive Capacity proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The assessments were informed by comprehensive literature reviews of Torres Strait climate (observed and projected), key fishery habitats and their vulnerability to climate change, and species reviews for 10 fishery groups that covered fishery characteristics, species life cycles and sensitivity to environmental changes. The assessments were further informed by results of interviews with Torres Strait Islanders. The results of the vulnerability assessments identified species with high, medium and low relative vulnerability to climate change. The species identified as having the highest relative vulnerability were: black teatfish, black-lipped pearl oyster, dugong, and trochus. When vulnerability was combined with the level of importance of each species to fisheries in Torres Strait (using a measure of cultural and economic value), a priority list of five species was identified for future action by management. These species were: dugong, turtle, tropical rock lobster, trochus and gold-lipped pearl oyster. This project concludes that there are a number of environmental changes that will be experienced in the Torres Strait by 2030, including habitat impacts that will have flow-on effects on a number of key fisheries. The main drivers are likely to be increases in sea surface temperature, increased severity of storms, and habitat changes particularly to coral reefs and seagrass meadows. The report also provides a range of recommendations on future actions and research that should arise from this project. These are grouped into three themes: (1) improving assessment accuracy, (2) extension of results to communities and decision-makers, and (3) research to address key knowledge gaps.

Distribution (range) polygons were assembled by regional SARA biologists using the best available information, including COSEWIC status reports, recovery potential assessments, academic literature, and expert opinion. These spatial data support the protection, recovery and conservation of species listed as Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern under SARA. Species distributions are also described and displayed in Recovery Strategies, Action Plans and/or Management Plans. Discrepancies may exist between the distribution data shown in a species SARA recovery document and the current spatial data. Please contact DFO for more information on any data discrepancies. Please refer to the metadata included with the data for full entity attribute information

Several reserves collaborated to develop the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Tool for Coastal Habitats. The tool helps decision makers evaluate a habitat’s vulnerability to climate change and prioritize it for conservation or restoration. South Carolina’s North Inlet-Winyah Bay Reserve and the Chesapeake Bay Virginia Reserve worked with local partners to refine and pilot this tool and share it with the national reserve system.

The Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) uses a scoring system that integrates a species’ exposure to projected climate change within an assessment area, including sea level rise, and three sets of factors associated with climate change sensitivity, each supported by published studies: 1) species-specific sensitivity and adaptive capacity factors, 2) threat multipliers such as barriers to dispersal and anthropogenic threats, and 3) documented and modeled responses to climate change. Assessing species with the CCVI facilitates grouping unrelated taxa by their relative risk to climate change as well as identifying patterns of climate stressors that affect multiple taxa.