COPING PRACTICES OF COASTAL FISHERMEN IN RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE FOR SOUTHERN COASTAL BELT OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

Climate change impact over the fishermen of an coastal river that flowing over the southern coast of Bangladesh are suffering the increased vulnerability in terms of less stable livelihoods, decreases in the availability of fish catch, and safety risks due to fishing in harsher weather conditions. This study highlights the river-based livelihood and economies of local communities along the Sangu River basin inside Bangladesh in response to climate change induced problem. Adaptation practices by the fishermen of Sangu river was investigated by triangulating semi-structured interviews, household survey data, while the different environmental variables and their fluctuations at five year’s time scales had been compared to detect the bio-physical changes. About 20% fisheries productivity reduced and the annual yield dropped to 162 MT from 850 MT in last fifteen years, which lead to BDT 280 million (80%) revenue loss. Socioeconomic impacts were felt through changes in capture, production and over all income, and possible increases in risks of damage or loss of fishing gears and crafts. Due to the low adaptive capacity, fishers tend to be poorer, more marginalized and losing their occupation.