Global warming influences have brought negative climate change consequences on global livelihoods and household food security of the world’s 36 million fisher folks and nearly 1.5 billion consumers who rely on fish for their dietary animal protein. Past studies have concentrated on climate change influences of marine and oceans’ fisher communities; they have investigated mainly climate variability and climate change impacts on fish distribution and production. Limited studies have explored the interaction between impacts of climate change on the fishing activities on inland and fresh waters such as in Lake Victoria and the fishers’ adaptive activities. The discussion of this article is based on a research which was focused on Mbita location on the shore of Lake Victoria where fishing is main livelihood activity of local community. The study was guided by the following research objectives to: Determine the influence of gendered effect of climate change/variability on fisher activities among the Mbita and Highlight the current coping strategies and underscore the possible opportunities available to the fishers due to CV/ CC in Mbita sub-county. The study used a constructivist epistemology paradigm and the mixed methods research design to collect and process the findings presented. Yamane’s formula (1964) is used to get the sample size of 388 respondents out of a target of of 13191. Primary data was collected using questionnaires; interview schedules for KII and FGDs. Secondary data collection was collected through reviewing of relevant documented information, from fisheries and climate change reports, working documents and related research articles on Mbita for the last 30 years. The validity of the instrument was done through content validity with the supervisors. The instruments were piloted in test retest and data generated processed using computer supported software (SPSS) Statistical Package for Social Sciences and presented in descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found that there was reduced fish catch was statistically significant with a p-value of 0.000. The effect of climate change on the loss of life of the fishers is statistically significant with a p-value of 0.001 and under the objective on coping strategies the study found that adaptation required transformation of mind set that called for bigger investment which required the collaboration and consultation of entire Mbita community and county government to address environmental and conservative resource utility. The study concluded that lack of alternative livelihood opportunities/options is the major constraints to adaptation for people living in the Lake Victoria region escalated with limitation of skills outside fishing industry, limitation of other employable professional skills including lack of capital. The study recommends a trans disciplinary consientization of adaptive strategies which can translate into flexible and sustainable CCA gender inclusive livelihood activities. Future research should explore participatory action research on environmental influences affecting CCA by comparing findings across other beaches.
Gender; climate change and Livelihood adaptation
International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development - IJTSRD having
online ISSN 2456-6470. IJTSRD is a leading Open Access, Peer-Reviewed International
Journal which provides rapid publication of your research articles and aims to promote
the theory and practice along with knowledge sharing between researchers, developers,
engineers, students, and practitioners working in and around the world in many areas
like Sciences, Technology, Innovation, Engineering, Agriculture, Management and
many more and it is recommended by all Universities, review articles and short communications
in all subjects. IJTSRD running an International Journal who are proving quality
publication of peer reviewed and refereed international journals from diverse fields
that emphasizes new research, development and their applications. IJTSRD provides
an online access to exchange your research work, technical notes & surveying results
among professionals throughout the world in e-journals. IJTSRD is a fastest growing
and dynamic professional organization. The aim of this organization is to provide
access not only to world class research resources, but through its professionals
aim to bring in a significant transformation in the real of open access journals
and online publishing.