Hurricanes can cause extensive long-term damage to small-scale fisheries. Yet, information is scarce on how communities are locally impacted by extreme events in the Caribbean and in other parts of the world. Focusing on an artisanal fishery in Yaguajay, Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, this article explores how artisanal fishers have perceived and responded to the different damages brought about by Hurricane Irma in September 2017 and the inundations associated with Storm Alberto in May 2018. Combining discussions and short interviews carried out pre and post-storms Irma and Alberto, this study identifies major environmental impacts and matching responses. In addition, the article sheds light on the evolution of small-scale fishing communities in Cuba and their current organization. Results show local perceptions of extensive biodiversity loss in terms of mangrove coverage, changes in salinity, and the quality of coastal environments that have affected the composition of captures and fish sizes. As a consequence of these changes, fishers are adjusting their effort and fishing intensity to match perturbations. Findings underscore the need to identify the synergistic relations that may exist between prior environmental degradation and different extreme events such as droughts, hurricanes, and excessive precipitation. The interrelation of these factors may result in compounded aggravated impacts that may unfold over longer temporal scales and not just as a one-time event. Authors conclude by stressing the importance of including the systematic study of extreme events along with local perceptions of ecological change in fishery management plans. Because fishers responses to hazards are based on their experiences and knowledge of the state of coastal and marine habitats, and especially on expectations about what constitutes normal ranges of change, KEYWORDS
Non-technical summary Sharing information between different countries is key for developing sustainable solutions to environmental change. Coastal wetlands in the Gulf of Mexico are suffering significant environmental and human-related threats. Working across national boundaries, this research project brings together scientists, specialists and local communities from Cuba and the USA. While important advances have been made in strengthening collaborations, important obstacles remain in terms of international policy constraints, different institutional and academic cultures and technology. Overcoming these limitations is essential to formulating a comprehensive understanding of the challenges that coastal socioecological systems are facing now and into the future.
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