How does climate change affect small scale fisheries? A case study of the Lower Amazon in Brazil

Abstract

Effects of global climate change on inland artisanal fisheries have received little attention from scientists. We investigated fisheries of the Lower Amazon in Brazil using a wavelet analysis of a 13-year data series of fishery catches, environmental variables, and climatic indices, to determine how these variables affected catches of different species. The catch per unit of effort (CPUE) of gillnet and line fisheries increased over time. Relative humidity, latent heat, and sea surface temperatures influenced productivity of both fisheries. El Niño had a negative and immediate effect on gillnet CPUE, while its effect on line fishing was positive, with an eight month lag. Our findings indicate that fishery productivity was modulated by climate events, which influenced ecosystems and modified habitats and ecological niches, andthereby impacted fishery productivity.