Understanding Livelihood Status of Fishing Communities to the Impact of Climate Change in The Coastal Areas of Bangladesh

This study assessed the livelihood status and vulnerability context of Bangladeshi coastal small-scale fishing communities to the impacts of climate variability and change. The study was carried out in two villages of Patharghata upazilla in Barguna District, Bangladesh and data were collected from a purposively drawn sample of 90 fisher’s households. Following a mixed-method approach the data were collected using household questionnaires, key informant interviews as well as from secondary sources. A conceptual framework known as Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA) were used for vulnerability assessment. Most of the fishermen belong to young aged group and their educational and training status was very low. Ownership of different livelihood assets among fishermen were not satisfactory. The fishing households is more exposed to climatic variability and change that promoted the impacts of sea level rise, land erosion, cyclones and associated flooding which influence all the livelihood assets and strategies of fishing communities. Most of the households have lower access to sanitation, market transportation, health facilities, GO and NGO services during adverse climatic situation. Increased levels of cyclones and floods will result in greater damage of fishing equipment’s, livelihood assets and lower level of fish catch. Income from fisheries related activities were found reduced by reduction in fish catching which in turn affecting their livelihoods. About 51.67 percent of the sampled households were highly vulnerable i.e., they have greater probability to fall in future income vulnerability. This study recommends for similar studies in other parts of country to develop a benchmark for comparison.