Exploring fishers’ perceptions of index insurance and coral reef health in the context of climate-driven changes in extreme events

Katherine Maltby; Luis Acosta; Bryony Townhill; Julia M. Touza; Piran Crawfurd Limond White; Stephen Mangi

doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsac003

Exploring fishers’ perceptions of index insurance and coral reef health in the context of climate-driven changes in extreme events

Katherine Maltby, Luis Acosta, Bryony Townhill, Julia M. Touza, Piran Crawfurd Limond White, Stephen Mangi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Climate-change-driven storminess and extreme events are increasingly challenging fishers in tropical island countries. Weather-based index insurance is an emerging tool that can assist fishing communities in their recovery and adaptation to such events. In these regions, coral reefs support valuable fisheries and also provide coastal protection during extreme events. Surveying 80 fishers in Grenada, this exploratory study examined fishers’ perceptions of index insurance in the context of their experiences of extreme events. We also explore perceptions of reef health and its’ connections to fishing outcomes and coastal protection, given the indirect role this plays in supporting fishers’ resilience through associated fisheries and storm protection. Most fishers viewed extreme events as a severe risk to their livelihoods, affecting their ability to make future plans. Fishers comprehended the links between improved reef health and positive impacts on fishing (higher catches and incomes). Several challenges regarding index insurance were raised, which centred on themes of flexibility, affordability, inclusivity, and accessibility. These could pose barriers to fishers and undermine demand for or participation in such schemes. As such, research, design, and implementation of future index insurance schemes should consider issues raised by fishers to ensure that provision is equitable and improve uptake.

Original language	English
Article number	fsac003
Number of pages	12
Journal	ICES Journal of Marine Science
Early online date	27 Jan 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsac003
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 27 Jan 2022

Bibliographical note

Access to Document

10.1093/icesjms/fsac003Licence: CC BY

Exploring fishers’ perceptions of index insurance and coral reef health in the context of climate-driven changes in extreme events
© The Author(s) 2022.
Final published version, 1.08 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Exploring fishers{\textquoteright} perceptions of index insurance and coral reef health in the context of climate-driven changes in extreme events",

abstract = "Climate-change-driven storminess and extreme events are increasingly challenging fishers in tropical island countries. Weather-based index insurance is an emerging tool that can assist fishing communities in their recovery and adaptation to such events. In these regions, coral reefs support valuable fisheries and also provide coastal protection during extreme events. Surveying 80 fishers in Grenada, this exploratory study examined fishers{\textquoteright} perceptions of index insurance in the context of their experiences of extreme events. We also explore perceptions of reef health and its{\textquoteright} connections to fishing outcomes and coastal protection, given the indirect role this plays in supporting fishers{\textquoteright} resilience through associated fisheries and storm protection. Most fishers viewed extreme events as a severe risk to their livelihoods, affecting their ability to make future plans. Fishers comprehended the links between improved reef health and positive impacts on fishing (higher catches and incomes). Several challenges regarding index insurance were raised, which centred on themes of flexibility, affordability, inclusivity, and accessibility. These could pose barriers to fishers and undermine demand for or participation in such schemes. As such, research, design, and implementation of future index insurance schemes should consider issues raised by fishers to ensure that provision is equitable and improve uptake.",

author = "Katherine Maltby and Luis Acosta and Bryony Townhill and Touza, {Julia M.} and White, {Piran Crawfurd Limond} and Stephen Mangi",

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AU - Maltby, Katherine

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AU - Touza, Julia M.

AU - White, Piran Crawfurd Limond

AU - Mangi, Stephen

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N2 - Climate-change-driven storminess and extreme events are increasingly challenging fishers in tropical island countries. Weather-based index insurance is an emerging tool that can assist fishing communities in their recovery and adaptation to such events. In these regions, coral reefs support valuable fisheries and also provide coastal protection during extreme events. Surveying 80 fishers in Grenada, this exploratory study examined fishers’ perceptions of index insurance in the context of their experiences of extreme events. We also explore perceptions of reef health and its’ connections to fishing outcomes and coastal protection, given the indirect role this plays in supporting fishers’ resilience through associated fisheries and storm protection. Most fishers viewed extreme events as a severe risk to their livelihoods, affecting their ability to make future plans. Fishers comprehended the links between improved reef health and positive impacts on fishing (higher catches and incomes). Several challenges regarding index insurance were raised, which centred on themes of flexibility, affordability, inclusivity, and accessibility. These could pose barriers to fishers and undermine demand for or participation in such schemes. As such, research, design, and implementation of future index insurance schemes should consider issues raised by fishers to ensure that provision is equitable and improve uptake.

AB - Climate-change-driven storminess and extreme events are increasingly challenging fishers in tropical island countries. Weather-based index insurance is an emerging tool that can assist fishing communities in their recovery and adaptation to such events. In these regions, coral reefs support valuable fisheries and also provide coastal protection during extreme events. Surveying 80 fishers in Grenada, this exploratory study examined fishers’ perceptions of index insurance in the context of their experiences of extreme events. We also explore perceptions of reef health and its’ connections to fishing outcomes and coastal protection, given the indirect role this plays in supporting fishers’ resilience through associated fisheries and storm protection. Most fishers viewed extreme events as a severe risk to their livelihoods, affecting their ability to make future plans. Fishers comprehended the links between improved reef health and positive impacts on fishing (higher catches and incomes). Several challenges regarding index insurance were raised, which centred on themes of flexibility, affordability, inclusivity, and accessibility. These could pose barriers to fishers and undermine demand for or participation in such schemes. As such, research, design, and implementation of future index insurance schemes should consider issues raised by fishers to ensure that provision is equitable and improve uptake.

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