Climate Change Perceptions, Impacts and Adaptation Strategies: Insights of Fishers in Zambezi River Basin, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The Zambezi River Basin is considered to be highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and adverse weather events, which might cause serious environmental, economic, and social consequences for millions of people. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how natural resource-dependent people perceive climate change, and how they adapt to the changes, as it is very important for climate change adaptation policy formulation and its implementation. Therefore, this study seeks to assess fishers perceptions of climate change, its impacts on fishery resources and livelihoods, and their adaptation strategies. Data were collected from 120 fishers in two basins (Binga and Kariba) along the shores of Lake Kariba using a mixed-method research approach. Meteorological data were obtained from the Meteorological Department Services of Zimbabwe (MSDZ). The findings show that fishers of Lake Kariba have observed changes in temperature and rainfall trends. Fishers believe that the perceived changes of the climatic variables have led to a decline in fish productivity and fish catches. To cope with declining fish stocks and catches, fishers have adopted several adaptation strategies, including changing fishing gear, targeting new fish species, and increasing fishing efforts. These study findings help to set a path towards local specific climate change adaptation strategies for small-scale fishers. This study provided relevant information for policy makers and fisheries stewards to formulate appropriate policies and programmes aimed at enhancing fishers adaptation to climate change and promote sustainable fisheries.