In-Situ Adaptation and Coastal Vulnerabilities in Ghana and Tanzania

Coastal fisheries communities in sub-Saharan Africa are under high socioeconomic vulnerability in the face of environmental pressures. This article contributes to the current adaptation debate by revisiting the benefits of in-situ adaptation. We assess possible in-situ adaptation strategies amid ong...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journal of environment & development 2019-09, Vol.28 (3), p.282-308
Main Authors: Yang, Jeasurk, Owusu, Victor, Andriesse, Edo, Ablo, Austin Dziwornu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation
Coastal development
Coastal fisheries
Collective action
Fisheries
Nondestructive testing
Occupations
Socioeconomic factors
Vulnerability
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Summary:Coastal fisheries communities in sub-Saharan Africa are under high socioeconomic vulnerability in the face of environmental pressures. This article contributes to the current adaptation debate by revisiting the benefits of in-situ adaptation. We assess possible in-situ adaptation strategies amid ongoing vulnerabilities by comparing Ghana and Tanzania. A total of 441 household surveys were conducted in four study sites. The major findings of the study are as follows: First, the three major in-situ adaptation strategies are regular changes of nondestructive fisheries techniques, alternative occupations, and collective action. Second, all three strategies have a significant relationship with income change. Finally, the communities in Tanzania utilized all three strategies more and performed better economically than those in Ghana. On the basis of these insights, we suggest implications of in-situ adaptation for future coastal development in sub-Saharan Africa.
ISSN:1070-4965
1552-5465
DOI:10.1177/1070496519852992