Climate-Driven Range Shifts Are Rapid Yet Variable Among Recreationally Important Coastal-Pelagic Fishes

Shifts in species distributions are occurring globally response to climate change, but robust comparisons of redistribution rates among often prevented by methodological inconsistencies, challenging the identification that most rapidly undergoing range shifts. In particular, comparable assessments redistributions harvested essential for identifying climate-driven changes fishing opportunities and prioritising development management strategies. Here we utilise consistent datasets methodologies comparably analyse shifts over 21 years four recreationally important coastal-pelagic fishes (Australian bonito, Australian spotted mackerel, narrow-barred Spanish common dolphinfish) from eastern ocean warming hotspot. Latitudinal values corresponding poleward edge species’ core oceanographic habitats were extracted distribution models (SDMs). Rates ranged between 148.7 (i.e., 278.6 mackerel) km per decade study period. However, varied approximately 130 species, demonstrating subtle differences environmental responses can manifest highly variable These findings highlight capacity undergo rapid, yet variable, shifts, which have implications ecosystem structure changing availability key resources fisheries.