Climate change dynamics and youth participation decisions in aquatic food systems: Case of the oyster sector in The Gambia, West Africa

Abstract

Climate change adversely affects aquatic food systems, causing livelihood challenges and other socioeconomic complexities. We use the case of the oyster sector in The Gambia to explore the awareness of climate change impacts and its effect on youth participation decisions. The paper also examines how family ties to oyster activities, climate adaptation strategies, capacity development opportunities, and introductions of climate-smart innovations influence youths’ decisions to engage in oyster value chain activities. We conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) with youths to explore the factors affecting their participation decisions in the oyster sector. We then used information from the FGDs to design a survey questionnaire to collect data from 312 youths through a simple random sampling technique. Through the probit model, the results show that awareness and training opportunities on climate change, discussions about climate change with family members, training on oyster management, awareness on the use of climate-smart tools, decisions to stay or leave the oyster harvesting community, family ties to oyster harvesting, and awareness of climate change adaptation strategies, positively influenced youths’ decisions to succeed in oyster activities. The educational level and climate-related stressors negatively influenced youths’ succession decisions. This paper contributes to the existing literature on the need to improve the human capital of youths through relevant skills and capacity-building opportunities to encourage their participation in aquatic food systems. The study suggests that the successful engagement of youths in the oyster sector requires an enabling environment supporting the recruitment and retention of youths despite the challenges of climate change.