The role of fish and fisheries in recovering from natural hazards: Lessons learned from Vanuatu

Eriksson, H., et al., 2017. Environmental Science and Policy

Original research (primary data)
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Abstract

Coastal fisheries provide staple food and sources of livelihood in Pacific Island countries, and securing a sustainable supply is recognised as a critical priority for nutrition security. This study sought to better understand the role of fish for Pacific Island communities during disasters and in disaster recovery. To evaluate community impacts and responses after natural disasters, focus group discussions were held with men and women groups at ten sites across Shefa, Tafea, Malampa and Sanma provinces in Vanuatu. The combined impacts of category 5 Tropical Cyclone Pam (TC-Pam) in March 2015 and prolonged El-Niأ±o induced drought have had a profound impact across much of Vanuatu. Terrestrial systems had been disproportionately impacted with substantial shortages in drinking water, garden crops, cash crops and damage to infrastructure. Localized impacts were noted on marine environments from TC-Pam and the drought, along with an earthquake that uplifted reef and destroyed fishing grounds in Malampa province. Communities in Malampa and Shefa provinces also noted a crown-of-thorns outbreak that caused coral mortality. The significant reduction in terrestrial-based food and income generation capacity generally led to increased reliance on marine resources to cope and a shift in diets from local garden food to rice. However, limited market access, lack of fishing skills and technology in many sectors of the community reduced the capacity for marine resources to support recovery. A flexible management approach allowed protected areas and species to be utilized as reservoirs of food and income when temporarily opened to assist recovery. These findings illustrate that fish and fisheries management is at the center of disaster preparedness and relief strategies in remote Pacific Island communities. High physical capital (e.g. infrastructure, water tanks and strong dwellings) is key for disaster preparedness, but supporting community social capital for the purpose of natural resource management and human capital for diverse adaptation skills can also improve community resilience. Recognizing the humanitarian value that well managed fisheries resources and skilled fishers can play to disaster relief adds another dimension to the imperative of improving management of coastal fisheries and aligning policies across sectors.

Case studies

Basic information

  • Case ID: INT-040-1
  • Intervention type: Combination
  • Intervention description:

    Temporary opening of MPas and temporary lifting of bans/quotas on specific species to be utilized as reservoirs of food and income i.e. a flexible MPA management approach allowing protected areas to be utilized as reservoirs of food and income when temporarily opened to assist recovery. Additionally authors describe - The immediate opening of the full closure of beche-de-mer throughout Vanuatu for four months (Sites B, C, F, and I), communities opened their tabu areas (fishing grounds temporarily closed to fishing for several months after TC-Pam and expressed that this reservoir of fish was important for their short-term needs.

  • Landscape/sea scape ecosystem management: No
  • Climate change impacts Effect of Nbs on CCI Effect measures
    Loss of food production  Positive Qualitative measure – reducing sensitivity to climate impact, increase resilience to shocks; income/food provisioning focus group discussions explored how opening of MpAs and lifting of species harvesting bans/quotas contributed to food and income to help cope with impact of tropical cyclone (which negatively impacted other livelihoods including livelihoods dependent on terrestrial production)
  • Approach implemented in the field: Yes
  • Specific location:

    Four communities in Vanuatu

  • Country: Vanuatu
  • Habitat/Biome type: Tropical oceans |
  • Issue specific term: Community-based (general)

Evidence

  • Notes on intervention effectivness: trade-offs – the benefits from fishing are primarily accessible to communities with skilled fishers, access to fishing markets, and transitioning to fishing is particularly difficult for those that were previously practicing primarily terrestrial forms of food production. Fishing is also male dominated and therefore women do not benefit as much in some sites.
  • Is the assessment original?: Yes
  • Broadtype of intervention considered: Not applicable
  • Compare effectivness?: No
  • Compared to the non-NBS approach: Not applicable
  • Report greenhouse gas mitigation?: No
  • Impacts on GHG: Not applicable
  • Assess outcomes of the intervention on natural ecosystems: No
  • Impacts for the ecosystem: Not reported
  • Ecosystem measures:
  • Assess outcomes of the intervention on people: Yes
  • Impacts for people: Positive
  • People measures: qualitative - focus group discussions explored how opening of MPAs and lifting of species harvesting bans/quotas contributed to food and income to help cope with impact of tropical cyclone (which negatively impacted other livelihoods including livelihoods dependent on terrestrial production)
  • Considers economic costs: No
  • Economic appraisal conducted: No
  • Economic appraisal described:
  • Economic costs of alternative considered: No
  • Compared to an alternative: Not reported

Evaluation methodology

  • Type of data: Qualitative
  • Is it experimental: No
  • Experimental evalution done: Not applicable
  • Non-experimental evalution done: Empirical case study
  • Study is systematic: