Evaluating Social and Ecological Vulnerability of Coral Reef Fisheries to Climate Change

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 8; no. 9; p. e74321
• Main Authors: Cinner, Joshua E., Huchery, Cindy, Darling, Emily S., Humphries, Austin T., Graham, Nicholas A. J., Hicks, Christina C., Marshall, Nadine, McClanahan, Tim R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 11.09.2013; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Animals; Anthozoa - physiology; Biodiversity; Case studies; Climate and human activity; Climate change; Climate Change - economics; Coastal ecology; Coastal environments; Commercial fishing; Communities; Conservation of Natural Resources; Coral bleaching; Coral Reefs; Councils; Cyclones; Ecological monitoring; Ecosystem; Ecosystems; Environmental aspects; Environmental economics; Fisheries; Fisheries - economics; Fisheries - statistics & numerical data; Fisheries management; Fishes; Fishes - physiology; Fishing; Fishing (Recreation); Fishing gear; Fishing tackle; Gears; Global temperature changes; Health aspects; Humans; Kenya; Nature reserves; Occupations; Population Density; Principal Component Analysis; Reserves; Sensitivity; Social-ecological systems; Kenya
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074321

There is an increasing need to evaluate the links between the social and ecological dimensions of human vulnerability to climate change. We use an empirical case study of 12 coastal communities and associated coral reefs in Kenya to assess and compare five key ecological and social components of the vulnerability of coastal social-ecological systems to temperature induced coral mortality [specifically: 1) environmental exposure; 2) ecological sensitivity; 3) ecological recovery potential; 4) social sensitivity; and 5) social adaptive capacity]. We examined whether ecological components of vulnerability varied between government operated no-take marine reserves, community-based reserves, and openly fished areas. Overall, fished sites were marginally more vulnerable than community-based and government marine reserves. Social sensitivity was indicated by the occupational composition of each community, including the importance of fishing relative to other occupations, as well as the susceptibility of different fishing gears to the effects of coral bleaching on target fish species. Key components of social adaptive capacity varied considerably between the communities. Together, these results show that different communities have relative strengths and weaknesses in terms of social-ecological vulnerability to climate change.