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16 - Adaptation and conflict within fisheries: insights for living with climate change

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 August 2009

By
Sarah Coulthard
Edited by
W. Neil Adger ,
Irene Lorenzoni  and
Karen L. O'Brien
W. Neil Adger
Affiliation:
University of East Anglia
Irene Lorenzoni
Affiliation:
University of East Anglia
Karen L. O'Brien
Affiliation:
Universitetet i Oslo
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Summary

Introduction

Continuous over-fishing and declining fish stocks have caused many scholars to proclaim a global crisis in fisheries (Pauly et al., 1998, 2002; Worm et al., 2006; Clark, 2007). The extent and cause of this crisis are complex and heavily contested. Despite this uncertainty, there is growing consensus that the future of fisheries is severely threatened and urgent action is required if marine ecosystems are to function in the future (FAO, 2000; Pauly et al., 2002; WCSD, 2002). It is within this era of alarm that fisheries must now contend with an additional threat – that of human-induced climate change. Most research on fisheries and climate change focuses on the predicted impacts of climate change on the fish – fish ecosystems (Walther et al., 2002), fish abundance (Stenevika and Sundbya, 2007) and fish habitats (Pittock, 1999). More recently, the impact of climate change on the economic future of fisheries has received growing attention (Eide, 2008). This chapter expands on this debate through an exploration into how the fisher and fishing society is adapting (or not) to the many changes and challenges now faced.

Fishing is an inherently risky and unpredictable business. It remains one of the most dangerous of all human livelihoods (Perez-Labajos, 2008) and fishers often live with high levels of income fluctuation and uncertainty. Despite this, the ‘thrill of the hunt’ and ‘finding of fish’ has been interpreted as a valued aspect of fishing life – the adventure and challenge of fisheries playing an important role in job satisfaction (Pollnac and Poggie, 2006 p. 333).

Type
Chapter
Information
Adapting to Climate Change
Thresholds, Values, Governance
 , pp. 255 - 268
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2009

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