Global Change Responses

Small-scale fishing communities, especially those living in low-lying areas, are highly susceptible to global change, such as  environmental change, climate change and changes in markets and governance. Many of these communities have managed to cope and adapt, while others remain at risk. This research cluster aims to understand how small-scale fishing communities respond to different types of change and stressors. As well, it aims to identify factors and conditions that make it possible for small-scale fishing communities to cope and adapt and compile lessons from these experiences and share them widely.

The cluster has three linked activities: a rapid appraisal and a more in-depth analysis of small-scale fishing communities response to change:

RAPID APPRAISAL:
First, we’re inviting anyone with knowledge about how small-scale fishing communities respond to change to complete a short online questionnaire, as part of the ‘rapid assessment’ of global change responses. Each contribution will be compiled into an e-book, which will be widely distributed to help communities learn about the coping and adapting strategies taken elsewhere. Data from the assessment will be integrated into the web-based interactive Information System in Small-Scale Fisheries (ISSF), as part of the ‘Global Alert’ layer, which will serve also as a monitoring and communication tool for small-scale fisheries around the world.

I-ADApT IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS:
Next, we would like to encourage those with detailed information on this topic to complete the I-ADApT template. I-ADApT is an integrated assessment framework developed to enable and enhance decision-making in fisheries faced with global change issues. The framework is based on a typology of case-studies that provide lessons on how the fishing communities and the broader natural, social and governance systems respond to the challenges of global change. It aims to enable decision-makers, researchers, managers and local stakeholders to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience of coastal peoples to global change through adequate decisions, improved reactions, and effective allocation of resource. The framework is developed by Human Dimensions Group of the IMBER (Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research) project. Within TBTI and Cluster we, plan to further develop I-ADApT as a useful decision making tool specifically for small-scale fisheries. We plan to publish the SSF I-ADApT case studies, either as a journal special issue or a peer-reviewed book volume, depending on the number of contributions.

GLOBAL CHANGE IN SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES (Call for contributions):.

Significant progress has been made in describing and understanding the primary aspects of observed large-scale changes in fisheries production. However, little is known about how these global changes affect small-scale fisheries and the relative communities who depend on them. Considering the importance of small-scale fisheries for many coastal communities – both culturally and, particularly for developing countries, as a reliable source of food – this cluster is launching a new initiative to enhance understanding about small-scale fisheries and their susceptibility to global changes. Specifically, we are inviting case studies about small-scale fisheries anywhere in the world affected by any type of change, local or large-scale, climate-related or others (environmental, economical, markets and regulations related). Case study contributors are encouraged to use the I-ADApT template, developed by IMBER Human Dimension Working Group. By applying the same framework to multiple case studies, typology of responses can be developed, based on fisheries characteristics and type of stressors. Such a typology can be very useful to help fishing communities and fisheries managers prepare for change. The findings will be published in a synthesis paper & journal special issue publication. Possible journals for the special issue are Global Environmental Change, Progress in Oceanography, and ICES.

For more information on participation in this cluster please scroll down to “How to contribute” section.