New study proposes climate resilience strategy to strengthen US seafood competitiveness

New study proposes climate resilience strategy to strengthen U.S. seafood competitiveness

University of Miami researchers outline a three-pillar approach for making domestic seafood production more stable amid climate-driven disruptions.

MIAMI — As the U.S. looks to expand domestic seafood production, a new University of Miami study argues that long-term competitiveness will depend on how well fisheries can withstand climate-driven disruptions. The study comes as NOAA advances new efforts to increase domestic seafood production and suggests that producing more seafood will require investments that reduce disruptions to the nation's fisheries and seafood supply chains.

Using Gulf Coast fisheries as a case study, the researchers examine how hurricanes affect one of the nation's most productive seafood regions and use those lessons to develop an approach that can help fisheries nationwide prepare for and recover from climate-related disruptions. While hurricanes provide the primary example, the authors say the same principles apply to other growing threats, including marine heatwaves and harmful algal blooms. 

"For fisheries, competitiveness isn't just about producing more seafood—it's about producing it consistently," said Juan Carlos Villaseñor-Derbez, assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. "Climate resilience gives fisheries the ability to recover faster from disruptions, creating the stability that businesses, consumers and coastal communities rely on."

The researchers frame climate resilience as an economic strategy, not just an environmental goal. Their analysis concludes that helping fisheries anticipate, withstand and recover from climate-related disruptions can reduce economic losses and strengthen the long-term performance of the U.S. seafood sector.

The Gulf of Mexico illustrates both the opportunities and vulnerabilities facing the industry. The region generates approximately $910 million annually in commercial dockside revenue, supports more than 250,000 commercial and recreational fishing jobs, and produces the nation's largest commercial shrimp and oyster fisheries. At the same time, it experiences the nation's greatest and fastest-growing exposure to hurricanes, demonstrating how environmental disruptions can damage marine habitats, fishing infrastructure, seafood processors and supply chains while delaying recovery for coastal communities. 

To strengthen resilience and support long-term competitiveness, the researchers outline three priorities:

• Adaptive governance that enables fisheries management to respond to changing environmental conditions while supporting sustainable harvests.
• Independent financial safety nets that help fishing communities recover more quickly after disasters and maintain productive capacity.
• Science-based climate risk assessments that improve forecasting, preparedness and long-term decision-making for fisheries and coastal communities. 

The authors say these priorities align with NOAA's ongoing efforts to modernize U.S. fisheries management by emphasizing preparedness as a foundation for expanded domestic seafood production. “Our aim for this analysis is to help inform future fisheries policies that strengthen domestic seafood production while supporting the coastal communities and businesses that depend on healthy, productive fisheries,” said Villaseñor-Derbez, also a core faculty member at the University of Miami Frost Institute for Data Science and Computing, Earth System Science Program.

The study, "Competitiveness in American Seafood Requires Climate-Resilient Fisheries," was published July 6, 2026, in the journal Fish and Fisheries. In addition to Villaseñor-Derbez, co-authors include Amelia Willett Burfoot of the Rosenstiel School and Renato Molina of Appalachian State University.

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

The University of Miami was established in 1925 as a private institution with a public mission: to transform the region and lives we touched. Today, we are a global force for breakthrough research, educational excellence, and life-changing opportunities. The University is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), with more than $521 million in research and sponsored program expenditures annually.

The University’s vibrant academic community comprises 12 schools and colleges serving more than 19,000 undergraduate and graduate students in more than 180 majors and programs. Located within one of the most dynamic and multicultural cities in the world, the University is building new bridges across geographic, cultural, and intellectual borders, bringing a passion for scholarly excellence, a spirit of innovation, a respect for including and elevating diverse voices, and a commitment to tackling the challenges facing our world. Together, we're building the future.

Founded in 1943, the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science has grown into one of the world’s premier marine, atmospheric, and Earth science research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life.