A framework for assessing vulnerability of inland fisheries to impacts of climate variability in India

Abstract

In recent years climate variability has threatened the sustainability of inland fisheries and dependent fishers in India. Systematic methodology to assess the vulnerability of the fisheries sector to climate variability is currently not available. Towards this end, the present work deals with the assessment of inland fisheries vulnerability to climate variations in 13 districts of West Bengal state in India. For this purpose, a composite vulnerability index (0.0-1.0) has been developed on the basis of functional relationships amongst sensitivity, exposure and adaptive capacity using 19 indicators related to inland fisheries. The data obtained reflected different spatial combinations of climate exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity among the districts. Five districts were highly vulnerable which was attributable to low adaptive capacity of the fishers which played an important role in altering the spatial pattern of vulnerability among the districts. Thus our research will provided an important basis for policy makers to develop appropriate adaptation strategies to minimize the risk of fisheries sector to climate variability.

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“…In the present study, most of the fishers (about 71%) are uneducated, because of which they are not able to take alternate vocation as adaptive measures. The findings of the present study is found to be in congruence with the earlier studies, where the communities which were most underprivileged (Islam et al, 2014), low per capita income (Das et al, 2014) and poor (Paavola, 2008, Black et al, 2011, Deressa et al, 2011 have been identified as most vulnerable communities. Since the fishermen societies were mainly dependent on fishery activities, other activities like animal husbandry and livestock farming activities were found to be minimal and negligible.…”

“…India, the second largest producer of fish is contributing about 5.43% of the global fish production and ranks second in aquaculture, thus providing livelihood of 14 million people in the country (Das et al, 2014). Impacts of climate change on Indian fisheries have been reported in the earlier studies (Vivekanandan, 2009, Vivekanandan, 2009a, Salagrama, 2012.…”

“…As described in the previous studies (Vas et al, 2009, NPCC 2008-09, Allison et al, 2005, Das et al, 2014) the exposure was defined as degree of climate stress upon coastal livelihood due to the long-term changes in climate condition (IPCC, 2001). The parameter used to assess the level of exposure of the system was the environment related anomalies, which were assessed using five attributes ( Figure 2).…”

“…However, vulnerability assessment at the local scale focusing the impact of climate change on small-scale fishers of the tropical region is lacking. Studies carried out by Das et al (2014) assess the vulnerability of inland fisheries, whereas Patnaik and Narayanan (2005) and Shyam et al (2014) assessed the vulnerability of coastal fishers.…”

Climate Change Impacts on Livelihood Vulnerability Assessment-Adaptation and Mitigation Options in Marine Hot Spots in Kerala, India

“…Exposure relates to the degree of climate stress upon a particular sector of analysis. It may be represented either as long-term changes in the conditions of climate, or by changes in climate variability, including the magnitude and frequency of extreme events Das et al [37]. Many climate variables influence fisheries through a range of direct and indirect pathways.…”