Climate resilience and risks of rigidity traps in Iceland’s fisheries

Abstract

Paper summary generated by OpenAI: This study investigates the climate resilience and potential rigidity traps within Iceland’s fisheries system, which is characterized by effective governance and a wealth of data. Through semi-structured expert interviews, the research identifies key social-ecological attributes that facilitate adaptation, such as flexible management and strong institutional connections. However, it also reveals that these attributes can lead to rigidity traps, where efforts to optimize resilience may inadvertently increase vulnerability to extreme environmental changes. The findings suggest that while Iceland’s fisheries can serve as a model for climate adaptation, careful consideration is needed to avoid pitfalls associated with these resilience attributes.