Abstract:

Fisheries support livelihoods but are threatened by climate variability and change which
intensified since the 1970s. This study used quantitative and qualitative methods to determine
the extent to which fishers around Lake Wamala in Uganda were copying with perceived
changes in climate variables and the impacts on their livelihoods, to generate knowledge to
enable the fishers increase resilience and sustain their livelihoods. Fishers were aware of
changes in climate manifested by unpredictable seasons, floods and droughts. Fishing was the
main livelihood activity. The African catfish had replaced Nile tilapia as the dominant fish
species. There was damage and loss of gear, boats, landing sites and lives, and changes in fish
catches and sizes, income and fish consumption during the perceived floods and droughts. The
fishers adapted to the changes through increasing time on fishing grounds and changing target
species and fishing gears but innovative ones diversified to high value crops and livestock which
increased their income beyond what was earned from fishing thus acting as an incentive for some of them to quit fishing. Diversification to non-fishery activities as a form of adaptation was enhanced by membership to social groups, weekly fishing days, fishing experience and age of
fishers but its benefits were not equally shared among men and women. Mitigation measures
included planting trees, mulching gardens and protecting wetlands. Adaptation and mitigation
included improving access to credit, irrigation facilities and appropriate planting materials and
raising awareness. The study showed that the fishers were aware of changes in climatic variables
and the impacts on their livelihoods.
practiced by the fishers which if promoted and their constraints addressed, could increase
resilience of fishers to climatic change and sustain their livelihoods.
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There were also adaptation and mitigation measures
Fisheries support livelihoods but are
measures were constrained by limited credit, awareness and land. The required interventions