Fifth International Conference Fifth International Conference on Community Based Adaptation on Community Based Adaptation

to Climate Change to Climate Change 24-31 March 2011 24-31 March 2011

BangladeshBangladesh

Adaptation Capacity of Fishing Adaptation Capacity of Fishing Communities to Climate Communities to Climate

Vulnerabilities and Changes for Vulnerabilities and Changes for improving their Livelihoods- A Case improving their Livelihoods- A Case

Study Conducted in Cox’s Bazaar Study Conducted in Cox’s Bazaar District of BangladeshDistrict of Bangladesh

Srijita DasguptaSrijita Dasgupta

Mahidol University International College Mahidol University International College

Bangkok, ThailandBangkok, Thailand

Outline of the presentationOutline of the presentation

IntroductionIntroduction MethodologyMethodology Demographic process and transformationDemographic process and transformation Effects of climate changeEffects of climate change IssuesIssues Adaptation mechanismsAdaptation mechanisms Trends in adaptation mechanismsTrends in adaptation mechanisms RecommendationsRecommendations

IntroductionIntroduction

About 40 000 traditional marine fishing households (HHs) in Cox’s Bazaar; About 40 000 traditional marine fishing households (HHs) in Cox’s Bazaar; 60- 70% HHs live in exposed areas 60- 70% HHs live in exposed areas

Majority of them belong to Hindu caste-based Majority of them belong to Hindu caste-based “Jaladas”“Jaladas” (Literally slaves of (Literally slaves of water) group water) group

Nearly 50 000 men are directly involved in active fishing Nearly 50 000 men are directly involved in active fishing

Fishers are integral parts of marine fisheries resource management Fishers are integral parts of marine fisheries resource management initiatives; fishing is the primary economic activity for livelihoodsinitiatives; fishing is the primary economic activity for livelihoods

Poorest of the poor and number of female-headed households are above the Poorest of the poor and number of female-headed households are above the national averagenational average

Indigenous knowledge and worldviews carry significant value in the Indigenous knowledge and worldviews carry significant value in the management and conservation of fisheries resourcesmanagement and conservation of fisheries resources

Most vulnerable to climate change impactsMost vulnerable to climate change impacts

Source of InformationSource of Information- Duration: November –December 2010Duration: November –December 2010

- Mixed research method covering both Mixed research method covering both quantitative and qualitative quantitative and qualitative paradigmsparadigms

- Quantitative tool: Rapid Roving Quantitative tool: Rapid Roving SurveySurvey

- Qualitative tools: Focused Group Qualitative tools: Focused Group Discussion; key informant interviews; Discussion; key informant interviews; Participant observationParticipant observation

- Interview with Government Fishery Interview with Government Fishery OfficialsOfficials

- Secondary information from ECFC Secondary information from ECFC projectproject

Demographic process and Demographic process and transformationtransformation

→ → Traditional caste-based marine Traditional caste-based marine fishers fishers

→ → Emergence of new fishing Emergence of new fishing communities communities

→ → Multiple layers of middlemen, Multiple layers of middlemen,

moneylenders and other exploiters moneylenders and other exploiters

Effects of Climate changeEffects of Climate change

Stress and perturbations on fishersStress and perturbations on fishers

Decline in Catch Per Unit Efforts (CPUE)Decline in Catch Per Unit Efforts (CPUE)

Perceived higher mortality of fish due to disturbances in aquatic ecosystemsPerceived higher mortality of fish due to disturbances in aquatic ecosystems

Colossal loss of fisheries due to fry fishingColossal loss of fisheries due to fry fishing

Spawning and breeding success perceived to decline Spawning and breeding success perceived to decline

Fishing rendered to seasonal activity instead of year round employmentFishing rendered to seasonal activity instead of year round employment

Increased frequency of natural calamities and higher death rates for sea-Increased frequency of natural calamities and higher death rates for sea-bound fishers, no on-boat safety measuresbound fishers, no on-boat safety measures

IssuesIssues Climate change causes displacement of traditional fishersClimate change causes displacement of traditional fishers

Limited resilience to cope with impacts of climate change Limited resilience to cope with impacts of climate change vulnerabilities vulnerabilities

Very limited physical resource base and susceptibility to loss of assets Very limited physical resource base and susceptibility to loss of assets due to calamitiesdue to calamities

Less harvestable fish and threatened animal protein base Less harvestable fish and threatened animal protein base

Increasing dependence of fishers on non-fisheries activities negates Increasing dependence of fishers on non-fisheries activities negates lifestyles and cultureslifestyles and cultures

Continued overexploitation of marine fish and hence declining Continued overexploitation of marine fish and hence declining productivityproductivity

100%Resource erosion

Period1971

2011

40%

Adaptation StrategyAdaptation Strategy Adaptation StrategyAdaptation Strategy• Inadequate food consumption; poor quality meals and

resultant malnutrition• Increased child labour (domestic help)• Women reveal enhanced social capital to draw

benefits• Early dropout from school• Off-farm activities (seasonal)• Living in housings that are dilapidated because of poor

construction and absence of repairs • Pattern of social marriage weakened

Trends in Adaptation MechanismsTrends in Adaptation Mechanisms

PastPast PresentPresent FutureFuture

● ● Abundance of Abundance of fish resourcesfish resources

● ● Higher CPUEHigher CPUE

● ● Stable marketStable market

● ● Dominance in Dominance in fishing profession fishing profession and wisdomand wisdom

● ● Indiscriminate Indiscriminate fishingfishing

● ● Involvement of Involvement of children in fishingchildren in fishing

● ● Livelihood Livelihood sources diversified; sources diversified; part-time jobs in part-time jobs in laundry/ barber laundry/ barber shops/rickshaw shops/rickshaw pullerpuller

● ● Weaving by Weaving by womenwomen

● ● Children educationChildren education

● ● Permanent land Permanent land settlement rightssettlement rights

● ● Designated fishing Designated fishing zone for small-scale zone for small-scale fishers and access rightsfishers and access rights

● ● Appropriate marketing Appropriate marketing outletsoutlets

● ● More involvement with More involvement with local institutions local institutions

RecommendationsRecommendations1.Empowering these communities through supportingcommunity-level institutional development – organizationsand cooperatives of poor and marginal fishers – thatincreases their voice and lends weight to their opinion indecision-making processes affecting their livelihoods 2.Supporting initiatives for sustainable fishing practicesincluding ban on fishing in over-exploited areas andincreasing efficiency of fishing through use of appropriatefishing gear and fuel-efficient fishing vehicles 3.Supporting risk reduction initiatives within fishingcommunities, including conservation of natural storm barriers(reefs, wetlands, mangroves); warning systems (weatherforecasts and severe weather warning via mobile phonemessages); preparation measures and recovery processes

Recommendation continued…Recommendation continued…4.Enhancing fishers’ access to markets and technical

informationby streamlining the live and dry fish marketing channels andlimiting the control and influence of urban-based fish traders

5.Increasing viability of small-scale coastal and marine fisheriesby recognizing this activity as a separate sector of the economyand establishing a separate bank in the public sector modelledon Bangladesh Krishi Bank to enhance fishers’ access to financeon easy terms

6.National-level planning in support of adaptation capacityshould consider risk assessment of future fish stock variationand likelihood of resource degradation and produce sectoralplans accordingly.

Thank you for your attention Thank you for your attention