Fishermen using social-ecological resilience adapting coastal disasters

Abstract

Social-ecological resilience is not easy to understand in relation to definition and importance. Fisher folks are usually not getting recognition and importance by policymakers as well as nation. They faced several problems, and eventually, they are living with disasters. Fishers’ social-ecological resilience depends on various factors in responding to coastal disasters including their diverse capacities and skills on innovations, social capitals, network linkages, sharing, social regulations, hazard impacts, and economic instruments with the persuasion and available options for adaptation. The poor fishers often settle in the risky areas after immediate disasters for a bundle of benefits and opportunities in the risky areas. What happens with the social-ecological knowledge and resilience in relation to context and time? Local knowledge helps become resilient. Declined social bondage, norms, minimal innovations, and low level of local knowledge integration make the fisher community vulnerable and less resilient. Comparatively, the asset-less and poor communities are the most vulnerable to coastal disasters. The shared communities stand in a better position in responding to hazards and are more resilient. The blended knowledge of proven technology and locally available practices may be an effective strategy for coastal disasters’ management. The processing technologies for diverse processed food derived from fishes and other aquatic resources are essentially important for diversified livelihood opportunities in the coastal areas to combat disasters. The proposed model and approaches will contribute to the fisher communities becoming more resilient to coastal disasters.