Vulnerability to Climate Change: Adaptation Costs of Artisanal Sea Fishing in Lima Region, Peru

Abstract

Artisanal fishers and their livelihoods are vulnerable to variable catches caused mainly by climate change. The objective of this study is to assess vulnerability and estimate the costs of adaptation to climate change among artisanal fishers in the Lima region. The method consisted of generating catch loss indices and adaptation measures for artisanal marine fishing based on workshops with local fishers. According to the seawater surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) metric recorded by coastal laboratories of the Peruvian sea, the El Niño phenomenon in the summer of 2017 was classified as strong. We constructed five-catch variation indices (from ‘slight’ to ‘severe’ catch loss variation). The results indicate that in the artisanal fishery, despite there being no species subject to severe variation, there were some, such as flathead mullet (Mugil cephalus), mahi mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), and crab (Platyxanthus orbignyi), with a very high variation index, while the snakehead kingcroaker (Menticirrhus ophicephalus) exhibited moderate variation. We concluded that for the period 2017–2030, the adaptation costs (base year 2017) of accessible fishing credit and a bonus payment to artisanal fishers affected by El Niño events would be 3.9 million soles (US $ 1.2 million) in 2017 present value.