The Vulnerability of Small-Scale Fisheries-Based Livelihoods to Climatic and Non-Climatic Stressors in Kani Ward, Binga, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Fisheries are a leading livelihood portfolio supporting food and income security in developing countries. This study interrogated the susceptibility of fisheries to climate change and their contribution as a livelihood strategy for communities living in Kani ward, Binga. The study sought to evaluate the contribution of fisheries towards the sustainability of household livelihoods and the impact of climate change and multi-stressors on these fisheries-based livelihoods. We adopted a primarily qualitative approach. The results show that fishing is an important livelihood strategy for the Kani ward community. Fisheries were found to be capacitating households with various assets that include livestock, houses, refrigerators, cars and fishing rigs. Furthermore, fishing was found to be contributing to increased food production, household incomes, poverty reduction, better access to education, nutrition and health. Despite the contribution of fisheries as a livelihood strategy, it was found to be susceptible to climate variability and other multi-stressors. Multiple stressors included the cost of fishing permits and hawkers’ licenses, poor infrastructure and COVID-19. The dynamic interaction of these stressors with climate change contributed to the vulnerability of livelihoods based on fisheries. The study concludes that small-scale fishing can buffer marginalised people against shocks since they can enter and exit at a reasonably low cost. In order to address the challenges of climate change, the government needs to develop a climate change adaptation plan specific to fisheries, invest in data on small-scale fisheries, align fishing payment policies and improve household access to natural resources to ensure sustainable use of fisheries as an environmentally viable livelihood strategy.