Invasive species in a changing climate: evaluating nine measures for adaptive fisheries management

The establishment, spread, and impacts of aquatic invasive species (AIS) are accelerating globally, intensifying ecological and socioeconomic challenges for global fisheries requiring adaptive, context-specific strategies.Drawing on 11 AIS case studies, a global survey of 100 scientists, and an expert review panel of 21 scientists, we developed the recent technical paper Fisheries Responses to Invasive Species in a Changing Climate, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.For established AIS, nine adaptive management measures were considered: (1) developing commercial fisheries, (2) promoting recreational harvesting, and (3) creating market opportunities to valorize AIS.To support these, (4) education and outreach and (5) stakeholder engagement are recommended to build awareness and co-management.Environmental strategies include (6) spatial control in priority areas, (7) biological control under strict conditions, and (8) ecological restoration.In some cases, (9) a "do nothing" approach may be justified when intervention is unfeasible or potentially harmful.Collectively, this analysis offers a flexible decision-support framework informed by available evidence, expert consensus, and practical experience.As climate change continues to reshape aquatic systems and modulate invasion dynamics, these strategies offer essential guidance for sustaining biodiversity, ecosystem services, and livelihoods in fisheries affected by AIS.Ultimately, their effective application will depend on a series of specific factors, which often include coordinated governance, adaptive policy, and inclusive science-policy dialogue.