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Climate change triggers a wide mosaic of regional and local responses, often different to the large-scale variability in magnitude and direction. Because of the psychological connections (cognitive and emotional) with the frequency, intensity and age of a climatic event, people may have the capacity to recognize key variations at lower scales, especially those from which they perceive risk. Yet, the anticipatory actions and social engagement to respond or adapt to climate change are difficult to achieve, mostly when there exists a long psychological distance to climatic phenomena. Research about climate change communication provides clues about the relevance of place-based discussion to gauge risk perception and improve response protocols, their design and prioritization. It argues that strategies and actions required to face climate risks may widely differ depending on the scale and accuracy of the local representations displayed during discussions of climate impacts. This work examines how local attributes (from climate to social) operate and control place-specific risks and priorities, by comparing coastal communities in two locations, Cabo Pulmo, Mexico and Zanzibar, Tanzania, which are subject to different climate dynamics. This paper discusses the need to identify relevant climate risks/responses at the local level and how psycho-social factors (e.g., psychological distance, collective memory, and social engagement) may operate positively for building climate resilience. We also illustrate a workflow to increase and enhance collaboration between researchers and local people by promoting dialogue, participation and narratives that rigorously consider the local knowledge.

Blue Justice emerges as a counternarrative to the promise and commitment to Blue Economy and Blue Growth by shifting imperatives for growth and innovation to the central role played by small-scale fisheries and social justice in sustainable ocean development. To instrument Blue Justice, it is important to understand injustices experienced by small-scale fisheries people which can range from accusations of disregard for the environment to equating their fishing practices as illegal, or even the sudden usurpation of their customary fishing grounds and means of livelihoods. Drawing on Fricker’s concept of epistemic injustice, we examine how discrimination and lack of interpretative concepts to communicate unjust experiences wrongs small-scale fisheries people in their capacity as knowledge holders and subjects them to testimonial and hermeneutical injustice. We examine 20 testimonies of injustices experienced by small-scale fisheries people collected by the Global Research Network “Too Big To Ignore” (TBTI) and suggest a glossary of new concepts that can be used to interpret these experiences. Our results exemplify the presence of epistemic injustice, emphasizing the need to associate injustices in small-scale fisheries with non-conventional terms or concepts. We discuss the contribution of transdisciplinary research for providing such concepts and the potential role of social scientists and action researchers to enhance collective hermeneutical resources and thereby advance the goal of Blue Justice for small-scale fisheries.

Source at http://jifro.ir/index.php?slc_lang=en&sid=1. The present study examines the fisheries governance status of small-scale capture fisheries in the northern Persian Gulf. Qeshm Island, which is selected as case study, plays a prominent role in fisheries in the Persian Gulf and territorial waters of the country. The research methodology included in-depth and semi-structured interviews with heads of fisheries cooperatives and fishers to deepen our understanding of the cultural and technical characteristics of local fisheries communities. Subsequently, data was drawn from 322 questionnaires, using a random sampling technique. The analyses indicate that fisheries co-management is at an interstitial situation, while the fishers are willing to cooperate with the government. A finding is also showed that literacy has a significant effect on fishers’ willingness to cooperate with government. There was also a considerable conflict of interest among the fisheries communities in the study area, which makes the implementation of rules difficult. Small-scale fishing communities are generally in a hard-pressed situation, which affects how fishers operate. Our study aims to contribute to improving the governance and governability of small-scale capture fisheries in the region.

Without proper implementation of the SSF Guidelines, plans for the Blue Economy and Blue Growth will come to naught for small-scale fisheries. The European Union presents the Blue Economy and Blue Growth as follows: “Europe can unlock the untapped potential for growth in its blue economy while safeguarding biodiversity and protecting the environment. Traditional sectors such as maritime transport and maritime and coastal tourism will gain in competitiveness. Growing emerging sectors, such as ocean renewable energy and blue biotechnology, can become a key to creating more jobs, clean energy, and more products and services.”

There is no reason to wait for consensus on what is justice before we do something about injustice in small-scale fisheries. With the Blue Economy/Blue Growth now spreading around the world, I believe the issue of social justice for small-scale fisheries is an important and increasingly urgent issue, also for social research. We now have the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines), a landmark achievement when member-states of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) endorsed them in June 2014. I believe that if states do nothing to implement the guidelines, the Blue Economy will come at a loss to small-scale fisheries. Then the many injustices they have faced for so long will only exacerbate.

Presentation at the conference MARE 2019 People & the Sea X: learning from the past, imagining the future at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 24.06. - 28.06.19. http://www.marecentre.nl/.

Only collective action in small-scale fisheries can overcome the problems of poverty, marginalization, insecure tenure rights and powerlessness.

Source at https://www.fao.org/family-farming/detail/en/c/1145404/. Key messages Climate change affects communities and livelihoods in fisheries and aquaculture, and efforts to adapt to and mitigate climate change must therefore be humancentred. Climate adaptation strategies must emphasize the need for poverty eradication and food security, in accordance with the Paris Agreement, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other international instruments, such as the Voluntary guidelines for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries in the context of food security and poverty eradication. Measures to eradicate poverty and provide food security for people in fishing and aquaculture communities are also instrumental for climate change adaptation, and should be integrated in the formulation and implementation of national adaptation plans. Climate change adaptation for building resilience must be multi-dimensional and multi-sectoral to help people out of poverty and to prevent them from descending further into it. Capacity at national, regional and local levels of governance should be mobilized to facilitate adaptation to climate change for the poor and vulnerable. To address climate change vulnerability, management systems must create opportunities for fishers, fishfarmers and fish-workers to remain flexible, and to be able to sustainably utilize diverse livelihood opportunities. Climate change adaptation should empower local stakeholders to allow for meaningful participation of the poor and vulnerable, and safeguard their human rights. Climate change adaptation measures must address issues of power imbalances and inequity disadvantaging the poor, as they relate to, for example, gender, labour conditions, tenure rights, market access, migration patterns and stakeholder conflicts. The impact of climate change and adaptation measures for the poor and vulnerable must be monitored at different scales and dimensions, focusing both on achievements, best practices and on possible maladaptation. There is a need for the countries to put a stronger emphasis on poverty and food security in the context of fisheries and aquaculture within their national determined contributions.

The Norwegian experience shows that learning about sustainable small-scale fisheries development should not be a one-way traffic from the North to the South

In implementing the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) in fisheries, the roles of different players need to be judiciously factored in to ensure a level playing field.

"The need for community in the age of globalization becomes apparent when we employ the double vision of interdisciplinarity to the governance of fisheries."

"Small-scale fishing people need bold initiatives and collective action in the long march to securing their rights."