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Measuring the vulnerability of marine social-ecological systems: a prerequisite for the identification of climate change adaptations
Citation
Metcalf, SJ and van Putten, EI and Frusher, S and Marshall, NA and Tull, M and Caputi, N and Haward, M and Hobday, AJ and Holbrook, NJ and Jennings, SM and Pecl, GT and Shaw, J, Measuring the vulnerability of marine social-ecological systems: a prerequisite for the identification of climate change adaptations, Ecology and Society, 20, (2) Article 35. ISSN 1708-3087 (2015) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2015 The Authors
DOI: doi:10.5751/ES-07509-200235
Abstract
Reducing the vulnerability of coastal communities to marine climate change requires that communities have some intrinsic
capacity to adapt. To assist adaptation planning and the implementation of adaptation strategies, identifying barriers and enablers to
adaptation is important. Adaptive capacity, resource dependence, local climate change exposure and biological sensitivity were used
to assess socioeconomic vulnerability to climate change in three Australian coastal communities: St Helens, Tasmania; Bowen,
Queensland; and Geraldton, Western Australia. Higher adaptive capacity was associated with larger population size (i.e., Geraldton)
whereas greater resource dependence, and lower human and natural capital were associated with smaller populations (St Helens and
Bowen). Socioeconomic vulnerability was greatly influenced by climate exposure and sensitivity with the moderately sized Bowen having
the highest socioeconomic vulnerability to climate change. Adaptation strategies that utilized available assets, improved adaptive
capacity, or reduced socioeconomic vulnerability were identified in partnership with local communities, including increased and
diversified employment opportunities, the re-establishment of local fish markets, and improved education and communication. The
level of resources, or "capitals," available to communities can indicate where barriers and enablers to adaptation exist. Identified barriers
to adaptation included a heavy reliance on one sector for employment and a lack of physical capital. We demonstrate that knowledge
of intrinsic community characteristics can be beneficial for prioritizing adaptation actions to reduce socioeconomic vulnerability to
marine climate change.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | climate adaptation, resilience, fisheries, adaptive capacity, coastal communities, resource dependency, social-ecological |
| Research Division: | Human Society |
| Research Group: | Policy and administration |
| Research Field: | Public policy |
| Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Group: | Expanding knowledge |
| Objective Field: | Expanding knowledge in human society |
| UTAS Author: | van Putten, EI (Dr Ingrid Van Putten) |
| UTAS Author: | Frusher, S (Professor Stewart Frusher) |
| UTAS Author: | Haward, M (Professor Marcus Haward) |
| UTAS Author: | Hobday, AJ (Dr Alistair Hobday) |
| UTAS Author: | Holbrook, NJ (Professor Neil Holbrook) |
| UTAS Author: | Jennings, SM (Dr Sarah Jennings) |
| UTAS Author: | Pecl, GT (Professor Gretta Pecl) |
| ID Code: | 101618 |
| Year Published: | 2015 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 49 |
| Deposited By: | IMAS Research and Education Centre |
| Deposited On: | 2015-06-26 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-11-27 |
| Downloads: | 376 View Download Statistics |
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