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Project Record

Objectives:

To increase policy awareness of climate change threats to fisheries dependent livelihoods, its geographical importance, and position within the wider context of climate change.

Background:

Prior to FMSP project R4778J, there had been little work on the impacts of climate change on fisheries dependent livelihoods. Most studies of climate change and fisheries have focussed on large-scale industrial fisheries, while there also exists a limited literature on the impact of climate change on small-scale fisheries. Studies of livelihoods in small-scale fisheries in marine and inland waters have demonstrated a range of adaptive behaviours in the face of climate change, including migration and livelihood diversification. However, projected climate change scenarios indicate multiple risks to fishery-dependent communities due to the increased frequency of extreme weather events, the potential for large-scale phase shifts, and risks that lie outside the range of present day experience. These impacts are exacerbated by anthropogenic impacts such as coastal urbanisation, which have the potential to limit future opportunities for coastal fisheries communities. The dynamics of inland fisheries, such as the African lakes, appear to be primarily driven by climate change. As a result, both the ecosystems and livelihoods of fisher folk near these waterbodies are highly adapted to large fluctuations. It has been indicated that the decline in productivity of Lake Tanganyika was driven by changing regional climate, and may be the primary reason for reduced fish catches. In riverine and floodplain, flow rates and extent of flooding, which strongly influence catch rate, are likely to be affected by climate change. FMSP project R4778J looked at the 'Effects of climate change on the sustainability of capture and enhancement fisheries important to the poor: analysis of the vulnerability and adaptability of fisherfolk living in poverty.' This project provided a synthesised literature review on climate change and fisheries, and developed indices of poverty in fishing communities and sensitivity of these communities to climate changes. These indices enabled an initial comparison of the vulnerability of fishing communities around the world to climate change. In addition this project looked at a number of specific case studies of sensitive areas and ecosystems. These case studies illustrate the issues that will have to be tackled when supporting the adaptive capacity of poor communities reliant on such resources. The current project will develop these messages further, and deliver them to key stakeholders to increase uptake of outputs.

Intended Outputs:

New knowledge available on climate change impacts on fisheries livelihoods and placed within the wider context of climate change and its effects on other natural resource sectors.

Wider awareness of climate change effects on fisheries dependent livelihoods and other natural resource sectors among policy makers, management initiatives, research organisations and the public.