Fishers perceptions of ecosystem service change associated with climate‐disturbed coral reefs

Abstract

Understanding ecosystem service change necessitates an understanding of the social and ecological dimensions of ecosystem services and how they contribute to the well‐being of different people. These empirical research gaps persist across the tropics and in coastal environments, posing a challenge for small island states that depend on ecosystem services associated with near‐shore ecosystems like coral reefs. Perception‐based approaches allow for a rapid appraisal of what constitutes ecosystem service change, providing insights into why these changes matter, and how experiences of change differ between individuals. To capture perceptions of change in four ecosystem services associated with coral reefs (habitat, fishery, coastal protection and recreation services), we conducted 41 semi‐structured interviews with coral reef fishers from Seychelles, where reef ecosystems have been severely impacted by climate disturbance. We gathered quantitative and qualitative data to understand (a) if and what changes in reef‐associated ecosystem services have been perceived; (b) if fishers’ characteristics are associated with differences in perceived changes and (c) which changes matter most in fishers’ lives. Using a three‐dimensional approach to well‐being, we sought to identify whether reasons behind the importance of change connect to fishers’ well‐being. There have been noticeable changes across all four ecosystem services investigated. Changes include social, ecological and behavioural dynamics. Every fisher perceived at least one ecosystem service change but fishers who dive/snorkel or work from larger boats perceived a higher number of ecosystem services to have changed. Education, age and participation in snorkelling/diving were associated with fishers who identified changing habitat services as most important, whereas fishers from families with fewer livelihood alternatives and from smaller islands identified changing fishery services as most important. Different aspects of the subjective, relational and material dimensions of well‐being were implicated in why changing services matter. Despite known ecological shifts in reef condition, this research is one of few studies to empirically show how changes across multiple ecosystem services are being perceived. These perceived changes are complex, engage both the social and ecological dimensions of services, and connect in multiple ways to how fishers feel about their lives, their relationships and material well‐being. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

Evaluating the Feasibility of Sustainable Seafood Labelling Programmes in Small Island Developing States: A Pilot Study of Artisanal Fisheries in Seychelles

“…Our interpretation of this question, specifically, speaks to the challenges of disentangling current events -the COVID-19 pandemic -with what has been a relatively rapid development of fisheries in Seychelles over the past ~30 years. Several fishers we interviewed have been fishing for over two decades and have already had to make many adjustments to their fishing methods and gear over time (Woodhead et al, 2021). Climate change, including severe coral bleaching events (Gudka et al, 2020), as well as seasonal weather variations and tourism levels have all fluctuated largely over the past several years and led to constant changes in the market demand for fresh fish (Woodhead et al, 2021).…”

“…Several fishers we interviewed have been fishing for over two decades and have already had to make many adjustments to their fishing methods and gear over time (Woodhead et al, 2021). Climate change, including severe coral bleaching events (Gudka et al, 2020), as well as seasonal weather variations and tourism levels have all fluctuated largely over the past several years and led to constant changes in the market demand for fresh fish (Woodhead et al, 2021). COVID-19 was just one additional component of this change.…”

Evaluating annual severe coral bleaching risk for marine protected areas across Indonesia

“…[47]). For example, in the Indian Ocean, fishers have reported a loss of important fisheries species and nursery habitats and declines in income associated with bleaching-caused reef degradation [3]. Through difference-in-difference experimental designs, studies have confirmed that coral bleaching has disproportionately led to loss of income for fishers and affected the development and educational outcomes for children living within Indonesian communities reliant on reefs ( [57] ).…”

The Effect of Temperature on Goniastrea aspera Polyp Degradation and the Post-bleaching Resistance

“…Coral reefs ecosystem is an essential endangered ecosystem in the world. Its role in providing ecological services such as food supply, livelihoods, carbon sequestration and extreme weather buffers to millions of people is needed to be preserved (Cinner et al, 2016;Woodhead et al, 2021). The large-scale human dependency on this marine resource in Southeast Asia has led to the over-exploitation, resulting in the degradation of coral reefs, particularly near densely populated human settlement centres.…”