Fishers’ perceptions of climate change, impacts on their livelihoods and adaptation strategies in environmental change hotspots: a case of Lake Wamala, Uganda

Abstract

Fisheries resources support livelihoods of fishing communities but are threatened by over-exploitation, habitat degradation, pollution, invasive species and climate change. Unlike the other threats, climate change has received limited consideration and reducing its risks requires appropriate adaptation strategies. This study used quantitative and qualitative methods to generate knowledge on fishers' perceptions of climate change, changes in climate variables and their impacts on livelihoods, adaptation strategies, constraints to adaptation and required interventions to promote adaptation strategies that would enable fishers to build resilience to sustain their livelihoods. We found that fishers were aware of changes in climate conditions manifested by unpredictable seasons, floods and droughts. Fishing remained the main livelihood activity. However, the dominance of fishes had changed from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) to the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell). Floods and droughts were associated with damage to gears, boats, landing sites and changes in fish catches and sizes, income from fishing and fish consumption. The fishers adapted by increasing time on fishing grounds and changing target species and fishing gear among other things. Some innovative fishers diversified to high-value crops and livestock. This increased their income beyond what was solely earned from fishing which provided an incentive for some of them to quit fishing. Livelihood diversification was enhanced by use of communications technology, membership of social groups, increasing fishing days and fishing experience. Adaptation was, however, constrained by limited credit, awareness and access to land, which require interventions such as improving access to credit, irrigation facilities, appropriate planting materials and awareness raising. We identified adaptation strategies, which if promoted and their constraints addressed, could increase resilience of fishers to the influence of climate change and sustain their livelihoods.

Riverine fishers’ knowledge of extreme climatic events in the Brazilian Amazonia

“…In South America, research has only been conducted on fishers’ perceptions of birds biology [46], the interaction between birds and fishing [47], and territorial use rights [48]. However, the study contributes to the global literature of fishers’ perceptions of environmental change [49–52], and similar results were recorded by West and Vásquez-León [53] and Puri [54] for farmer’s perception of meteorological records.…”

Should I stay or should I go? Fishers’ ability and willingness to adapt to environmental change in Cambodia's Tonle Sap Lake

“…Traditional ecological knowledge can help fishers find new fishing areas, switch gear types and take on other jobs (Sievanen, 2014). Musinguzi et al (2016) reported fishers in Uganda were aware of climate change and its impacts on fish harvests and responded by spending more time fishing, shifting target species and using different types of fishing gears (Musinguzi et al, 2016). Others diversified their livelihoods by engaging in crop and livestock production (Musinguzi et al, 2016).…”

“…Musinguzi et al (2016) reported fishers in Uganda were aware of climate change and its impacts on fish harvests and responded by spending more time fishing, shifting target species and using different types of fishing gears (Musinguzi et al, 2016). Others diversified their livelihoods by engaging in crop and livestock production (Musinguzi et al, 2016). Many others have turned to aquaculture to substitute demands for fish (Cooke et al, 2016).…”

Perceptions of Resilience in Fishery‐Dependent Bahamian Communities Following a Category 4 Hurricane

“…However, using fisheries as natural insurance may require switching to alternative fish species and changing fishing grounds, as in the case of Ugandan fishers responding to increased floods and droughts (Musinguzi et al. ).…”