Small-Scale Fisheries in the Colombian Pacific: Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on Fishermen’s Livelihoods
While few have contemplated the potential impacts of climate change on small-scale fisheries and fishermen in the Colombian Pacific, understanding these effects is crucial for devising effective adaptation strategies. This study presents the outcomes of a vulnerability assessment related to climate...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-09-01
|
| Series: | Fishes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/8/9/453 |
| _version_ | 1797580063539986432 |
|---|---|
| author | John Josephraj Selvaraj Leidy Viviana Rosero-Henao Maria Alejandra Cifuentes-Ossa |
| author_facet | John Josephraj Selvaraj Leidy Viviana Rosero-Henao Maria Alejandra Cifuentes-Ossa |
| author_sort | John Josephraj Selvaraj |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | While few have contemplated the potential impacts of climate change on small-scale fisheries and fishermen in the Colombian Pacific, understanding these effects is crucial for devising effective adaptation strategies. This study presents the outcomes of a vulnerability assessment related to climate change for fishermen in the Colombian South Pacific. The assessment employed a multivariable model that considered the sensitivity of marine and coastal ecosystems that support fishing resources alongside fishermen’s adaptability to changes in the biophysical environment. Socioeconomic factors were also scrutinized. The study revealed that 80% of the surveyed fishermen are at a medium to high level of vulnerability due to changes in the distribution of key commercial species, which influences the productivity of their traditional fishing sites. Their vulnerability is primarily attributed to low usage of fishing technologies, the boat engine’s limited propulsion capacity, and a lack of diversity and sustainability in fishing gear. These elements increase their reliance on fishing sites close to the coast (approximately 3 km to 5 km from the shoreline), resulting in a low adaptive capacity for the fishermen. The dominant factor driving the sensitivity component was the economic significance of the fishing gear and the fact that the gear could be more diverse and durable. These findings provide a critical scientific basis for assessing the fishing sector’s vulnerability to climate change and informing future collaborative decision-making in managing small-scale fisheries in the Colombian South Pacific Ocean. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:45:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1537bfdd7a2849b08ee6a204ebcb46d7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2410-3888 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:45:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fishes |
| spelling | doaj.art-1537bfdd7a2849b08ee6a204ebcb46d72023-11-19T10:40:55ZengMDPI AGFishes2410-38882023-09-018945310.3390/fishes8090453Small-Scale Fisheries in the Colombian Pacific: Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on Fishermen’s LivelihoodsJohn Josephraj Selvaraj0Leidy Viviana Rosero-Henao1Maria Alejandra Cifuentes-Ossa2Institute of Pacific Studies, Tumaco Campus, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Kilómetro 30-31, Cajapí Vía Nacional Tumaco-Pasto, Tumaco 528514, Nariño, ColombiaResearch Group on Hydrobiological Resources, Faculty of Engineering and Administration, Department of Engineering, Palmira Campus, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 32, No. 12-00 Chapinero, Vía Candelaria, Palmira 763533, Valle del Cauca, ColombiaResearch Group on Hydrobiological Resources, Faculty of Engineering and Administration, Department of Engineering, Palmira Campus, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 32, No. 12-00 Chapinero, Vía Candelaria, Palmira 763533, Valle del Cauca, ColombiaWhile few have contemplated the potential impacts of climate change on small-scale fisheries and fishermen in the Colombian Pacific, understanding these effects is crucial for devising effective adaptation strategies. This study presents the outcomes of a vulnerability assessment related to climate change for fishermen in the Colombian South Pacific. The assessment employed a multivariable model that considered the sensitivity of marine and coastal ecosystems that support fishing resources alongside fishermen’s adaptability to changes in the biophysical environment. Socioeconomic factors were also scrutinized. The study revealed that 80% of the surveyed fishermen are at a medium to high level of vulnerability due to changes in the distribution of key commercial species, which influences the productivity of their traditional fishing sites. Their vulnerability is primarily attributed to low usage of fishing technologies, the boat engine’s limited propulsion capacity, and a lack of diversity and sustainability in fishing gear. These elements increase their reliance on fishing sites close to the coast (approximately 3 km to 5 km from the shoreline), resulting in a low adaptive capacity for the fishermen. The dominant factor driving the sensitivity component was the economic significance of the fishing gear and the fact that the gear could be more diverse and durable. These findings provide a critical scientific basis for assessing the fishing sector’s vulnerability to climate change and informing future collaborative decision-making in managing small-scale fisheries in the Colombian South Pacific Ocean.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/8/9/453climate changevulnerabilityspecies distributionColombian Pacificfishermensmall-scale fisheries |
| spellingShingle | John Josephraj Selvaraj Leidy Viviana Rosero-Henao Maria Alejandra Cifuentes-Ossa Small-Scale Fisheries in the Colombian Pacific: Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on Fishermen’s Livelihoods Fishes climate change vulnerability species distribution Colombian Pacific fishermen small-scale fisheries |
| title | Small-Scale Fisheries in the Colombian Pacific: Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on Fishermen’s Livelihoods |
| title_full | Small-Scale Fisheries in the Colombian Pacific: Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on Fishermen’s Livelihoods |
| title_fullStr | Small-Scale Fisheries in the Colombian Pacific: Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on Fishermen’s Livelihoods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Small-Scale Fisheries in the Colombian Pacific: Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on Fishermen’s Livelihoods |
| title_short | Small-Scale Fisheries in the Colombian Pacific: Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on Fishermen’s Livelihoods |
| title_sort | small scale fisheries in the colombian pacific understanding the impact of climate change on fishermen s livelihoods |
| topic | climate change vulnerability species distribution Colombian Pacific fishermen small-scale fisheries |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/8/9/453 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT johnjosephrajselvaraj smallscalefisheriesinthecolombianpacificunderstandingtheimpactofclimatechangeonfishermenslivelihoods AT leidyvivianaroserohenao smallscalefisheriesinthecolombianpacificunderstandingtheimpactofclimatechangeonfishermenslivelihoods AT mariaalejandracifuentesossa smallscalefisheriesinthecolombianpacificunderstandingtheimpactofclimatechangeonfishermenslivelihoods |