Understanding small-scale Fishers' perceptions on climate shocks and their impacts on local fisheries livelihoods: Insights from the Central Coast, Vietnam

Abstract

This research explores and assesses the different dimensions of the fishers’ perception of climate shocks in the Tam Giang – Cau Hai lagoon, Central Coast of Vietnam. It clarifies the impact of each type of shock on fishery livelihoods through the lens of local fishers. The data were gathered from five fishing villages in two coastal communes of Loc Binh and Huong Phong, Thua Thien Hue province. These included a survey (n = 181 households), six group discussions, and several in-depth interviews with the head of fisheries associations, commune officers, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners.The results show that most fishers from study sites observed that the climate and shocks have been changing in the last decades. Most respondents perceived strange changes in the flood, fluctuation of temperatures and rainfall, stronger storms, frequent droughts, and unpredictable freshening of the lagoon water. All of these changes severely impacted small-scale fisheries in research sites. Finally, this research finds that the WAI is useful for investigating perception among local fishers and their awareness about shocks impacting local fishery livelihoods. Both researchers and policymakers should use WAI to propose more effective policies on climate shock adaptation.