Socio economic approaches to strengthen the fisheries sector against the impact of climate change

Climate change is considered as a global threat. Moreover, the mitigation actions are becoming a challenge due to many global geopolitical reasons. On this backdrop, climate change impacts are expected to increase in the coming years, alarming some industries like fisheries, causing socio economic issues. This global threat is not a nightmare. Therefore, Sri Lankan policies should be enforced to ensure the wellbeing of fishermen.

Fisheries Sector and Sri Lankan economy

The fisheries sector is of importance to the Sri Lankan economy. According to Fisheries Statistics of 2016 Sri Lanka has 190,960 marine fishing households and 48,900 land fishing households. Fisheries sector has contributed to 1.4 % of GDP in 2015. Marine fisheries have the largest share of 1.3% and Inland fisheries 0.1% (Fisheries Statistics,2016).In addition to these monetary aspects, nutritional aspects like providing proteins and nourishing the nation prove the importance of the industry. Fisheries industry has been identified as a vulnerable sector to climate change in the National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change Impacts in Sri Lanka 2016-2025 (NAPCC, 2016).Similarly, agriculture and farmers are also subjected to the same climate change impacts. However, some protection mechanisms like crop insurance, crop loss compensations, and irrigation etc., have already been introduced to the agriculture sector. Hence, it is important that the fisheries sector too is sufficiently supported. This article has attempted to point out possible impacts on fisheries sector due to climate change and some research findings in the other sectors in order to show the importance of linking scientific methods and social science methods as a practice in Sri Lankan context.

Evidences of Climate change impacts on coastal areas and fisheries

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has shown that marine fisheries production peaked in the 1980’s and is expected to decline due to climate change impacts (FAO, 2007a). To support this statement, as an example The Mean Sea Level (MSL) has increased by 0.19 meters (globally) during the last century and it is expected to rise rapidly in this century (IPCC, 2014).

The greenhouse effect has increased the temperature in the ocean. Studies have shown the impacts on the global fisheries due to conditions like rising temperature and changing biogeochemistry. This could affect the reduction of fish harvest and income losses to the big companies as well households. (Brander,2007; Cheunet al., 2010).Growth and reproduction of fish can be affected by changes occurring in the ocean.(Pörtner, 2007) As an examplefishes in warmer waters are expected to have a smaller maximum body size and smaller size at first maturity. (Pauly,2007). Similarly, many marine species have moved towards the poles and into deeper waters underocean warming places like in the Northeast Atlantic(Perry et al., 2005).These factors are directly important to the productivity of fisheries and may cause high costs in the industry and income losses etc., in the future.

Sea level rise issue in Sri Lanka and existing national scientific actions

Sri Lanka is vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise because the Asian region usually experiences marginally higher sea level rise than global level. However, the exact sea level rise has not yet been specifically studied in the Sri Lankan context(NAPCC, 2016).Fisheries industry is susceptible to such impacts and it could affect the country’s economy (Senarathneet al., 2009). This has an impact on livelihoods and food security in the country as well.

Existing NAPCC 2016-2025 has included the coastal and marine sector action plan, highlighting adaptation needs. One such adaptation need is coastal zone management to face the impacts of sea level rise. This requires basic studies on the impacts in order to establish a monitoring system that strengthens the coastal protection and management in the vulnerable areas. Another identified adaptation need is enhancing the resilience of coastal systems against extreme events. Introduction of scientific support on intensive fishing methods, technology, sustainable use of fishing sites and proper fishing gear has been done in order to strengthen the fishermen to increase fishing productivity.

Importance of socio economic approaches against experiencing climate change and expected sea level rise impacts

There is a close link between the biophysical components of marine ecosystems and the socio-economics of fisheries. Global ocean–atmosphere changes could effect on multiple levels of organization of marine ecosystems and human society. It may cause many impacts on the economics of fisheries, creating larger global issues like global food security, energy supply and food prices. (Sumailet al., 2011)

As shown in one of research articles, actions solely based on science, especially which are practiced in less developed parts of the world would not solve the problems in marine ecosystems and coastal management (Rice et al., 2011). Thus, adaptation of similar practices to Sri Lankan context will not address or totally incompatible with required actions for future food security needs.This highlights the importance of incorporating the socioeconomic aspects in addition to the natural science approaches, especially to build the resilience or awareness and adaptation against the risks in national level plans. It helps to meet the food security goals and the socio economic wellbeing of fishermen.

Socio economic approaches: how it works.

Reducing the vulnerability to climate change via planned adaptation is such an approach. To assist in this, understanding of current response mechanisms to climate variability, recognition of the opportunities that climate change could bring to the sector and risks like loss of livelihoodare important. Therefore, multi sectorial adaptive strategies which include adaptation and recognition of fisheries potential are important. (Badjecket al.,2010).

Approaches to Identify the different sensitivity levels of fishermen, most vulnerable groups, within the fisheries sector, demographic characters of people who are more vulnerable etc.(Cinner,2012) are important. These kinds of approaches have revealed that the vulnerability of fisheries and fishing communities depend on their exposure and sensitivity to change, and on the ability of individuals or systems to anticipate and adapt. This adaptive capacity depends on the culture or marginalization and on reactive or anticipatory actions by individuals or public institutions. Similarly, the level of vulnerability varies between demographic groups within society. Generally, the poorer and less empowered individuals are more vulnerable to climate impacts, and the vulnerability of fisheries is likely to be higher where they already suffer from overexploitation or overcapacity. (Cochrane et al., 2009)

Options to increase resilience and adaptability through improved fisheries and aquaculture management include the adoption of standard practices of adaptive and precautionary management. Aquaculture insurance is one of the options for frequent severe weather events. Strategies for reducing vulnerabilities of fishing and fish farming communities have to address measures including investment and capacity building on improved forecasting; early warning systems; safer harbours and landings; and safety at sea. More generally, adaptation strategies should promote disaster risk management, including disaster preparedness, and integrated coastal area management. (Daw et al., 2009)

The socio economic index approaches have been introduced to lead sustainable farming and livestock systems. These indicators can be modified and used to monitor the fisheries sector performance as well to scale up the adaptation activities of Sri Lankan fishermen. Researchers have identified social stability, economic stability and environmental stabilityas the essential components of such indicators. The input management, natural resources management, wellbeing of farm community and overall sustainability are measured by these indicators. These could also be adapted to the fisheries sector.

Further, some studies have shown that although the communities have adapted to climate change throughout history, projected climate change includes multiple additional risks to fishery dependent communities that might limit the effectiveness of past adaptive strategies. Therefore, some adaptation strategies will require to be context and location specific and to consider impacts both short-term (e.g. increased frequency of severe events) and long-term (e.g.reduced productivity of aquatic ecosystems). Adaptation of communities will clearly require and benefit from stronger capacity building, through creation ofawareness on climate change impacts on fisheries and aquaculture, promotion of general education and targeted initiatives in and outside the sector. (Daw et al.,2009 )

How the link should perform

A practice is required consisting of multi sectorial methods. In this regard, the socio economic knowledge should be coupled with scientific actions. The link needs to be built in many prominent areas. One such area is scientific weather forecasting and dissemination. There is a dire necessity tofill this communicating gap in scientific climate information systems.People should be given accurate details via proper channels which have easy access and reliability etc. This increases the adaptation capacity of the fishermen.

The concept of sustainable fishery should be practiced with available farm assets with technology. In the same time, the socio economic wellbeing should be improved with introduction of livelihood improvement activities like differentiation of incomes, entrepreneurship development etc. In this regard, micro credit facilities, investment opportunities, gender based economic activities like processing maldive fish and infrastructure development are essential. Some of these things have already started in Sri Lanka. However, building awareness and resilience via suitable adaptation is needed to improve. In this regard, location specific characters should be identified in both scientific and socio economic parameters. The culture and historical background are important in such mobilizations.

Education and extension are major components of the socio economic approach. The fishermen need to be aware about the scientific methods and advance management practices to withstand the losses and damages. This link could help them to be more updated.

Fishermen need to introduce good management practices to prevent the possible quality and quantity losses. At the same time, knowledge in financial management and business is important. The youth need to be provided training and more opportunities to get the technology and available practices to catch export markets. In this regard, as a socio economic approach, the fishing community based organizations need to be provided training sessions on packaging, quality assurance, value addition etc.

Community mapping can be done based on the vulnerability levels by considering both geological and socio economic characteristics. The proposed socio economic indicators are important in this regard. This could help to identify the needy people and establish small villages with different production levels.

Conclusion

The socio economic approach and scientific approach should link to avoid the potential climate change impacts on fisheries sector and people. This will help them to withstand the possible income losses due to production loss, high cost and loss of original livelihoods.

References

Badjeck, M.C., Allison, E.H., Halls, A.S. and Dulvy, N.K., 2010. Impacts of climate variability and change on fishery-based livelihoods. Marine policy, 34(3), pp.375-383.

Brander, K.M., 2007. Global fish production and climate change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 104(50), pp.19709-19714.

Cheung, W.W., Lam, V.W., Sarmiento, J.L., Kearney, K., Watson, R.E.G., Zeller, D. and Pauly, D., 2010. Large‐scale redistribution of maximum fisheries catch potential in the global ocean under climate change. Global Change Biology, 16(1), pp.24-35.

Cinner, J.E., McClanahan, T.R., Graham, N.A.J., Daw, T.M., Maina, J., Stead, S.M., Wamukota, A., Brown, K. and Bodin, Ö., 2012. Vulnerability of coastal communities to key impacts of climate change on coral reef fisheries. Global Environmental Change, 22(1), pp.12-20.

Cochrane, K., De Young, C., Soto, D. and Bahri, T., 2009. Climate change implications for fisheries and aquaculture. FAO Fisheries and aquaculture technical paper, 530, p.212.

Daw, T., Adger, W.N., Brown, K. and Badjeck, M.C., 2009. Climate change and capture fisheries: potential impacts, adaptation and mitigation. Climate change implications for fisheries and aquaculture: overview of current scientific knowledge. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper, 530, pp.107-150.

NAPCC, Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment (2015) National Adaptation

Plan for Climate Change impacts in Sri Lanka 2016-2025, pp. 3

http://www.climatechange.lk/NAP/NationalAdaptationPlan_RevisedFinal.26.10.2015.pdf

Pauly, D. and Kinne, O., 2010. Gasping fish and panting squids: oxygen, temperature and the growth of water-breathing animals (Vol. 22). Oldendorf, Germany: International Ecology Institute.

Perry, A.L., Low, P.J., Ellis, J.R. and Reynolds, J.D., 2005. Climate change and distribution shifts in marine fishes. science, 308(5730), pp.1912-1915.

Pörtner, H.O. and Knust, R., 2007. Climate change affects marine fishes through the oxygen limitation of thermal tolerance. science, 315(5808), pp.95-97

Rice, J.C. and Garcia, S.M., 2011. Fisheries, food security, climate change, and biodiversity: characteristics of the sector and perspectives on emerging issues. ICES Journal of Marine Science: Journal du Conseil, 68(6), pp.1343-1353.

Senarathne,A.,N.Perera and K.Wickramasinghe (2009).Mainstraining Climate Change for Sustainable Development in Sri Lanka; Towards a National Agenda for Action .Research Studiies;working paper series No.14.institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanaka, Colombo,Sri Lanka

Sumaila, U.R., Cheung, W.W., Lam, V.W., Pauly, D. and Herrick, S., 2011. Climate change impacts on the biophysics and economics of world fisheries. Nature climate change, 1(9), pp.449-456.