Community-level socio-ecological vulnerability assessments in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem

Climate change is considered one of the most critical challenges facing the planet and humankind. It poses a key threat to marine ecosystems and fisheries resources as well as communities that depend on these systems for food and livelihoods. Understanding the vulnerability of these socio-ecological systems to climate change, and their capacity to adapt, has become the focus of several climate change and fisheries projects and programmes in recent years and, increasingly, researchers and practitioners recognise that actions supporting adaptive capacity building have to be grounded in local needs and experiences and thus vulnerability assessments should be participatory and inclusive. A good understanding of local vulnerabilities, including local perceptions of the multiple drivers of change, historic and customary adaptation strategies, and existing capacity within local institutions and amongst individuals, should be used as building blocks for strengthening resilience and identifying appropriate adaptation strategies. Participatory vulnerability assessment is an approach that facilitates better understanding of the extent to which a socio-ecological system (e.g. coastal fishery system) is susceptible to various socio-ecological changes (including the effects of climate change) and the system’s capacity to cope with and adapt to these changes from the viewpoint of the local communities. This analysis will help countries, partner agencies and their staff, researchers and fisheries professionals in understanding how to define and measure vulnerability within complex fisheries systems, using perceptions-based approaches within fishing communities in the Benguela Current region (Angola, Namibia, South Africa) as an example. Ultimately, the scope of this work is to improve resilience of fisheries systems and dependent communities to multiple drivers of change including climate change and ocean acidification.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	1423211763187 Raemaekers, S., 185761 FAO, Rome (Italy). Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Economics Div. eng, 1423211763188 Sowman, M.
Format:	Texto biblioteca
Language:	eng
Published:	Rome (Italy) FAO 2015
Subjects:	marine ecology, marine fisheries, fishery resources, climate change, Environmental Impact Assessment, adaptation, fishing communities,
Online Access:	http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5026e.pdf
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