Small-scale fisheries (SSF) based in coastal communities around the world are on the front lines of climate change impacts, facing unprecedented increases in the frequency and severity of acute climate shocks (e.g., hurricanes), as well as ever increasing sub-acute shocks and slower-onset stressors.
This is closely interlinked with social dimensions and dynamics – coastal communities and SSF are disproportionately affected by climate change due to a combination of factors such as high exposure to hazards, socio-economic marginalization and vulnerability, inadequate infrastructure, lack of access to services such as healthcare and social protection (including things like non-contributory assistance, contributory programs such as insurance and employment benefits, and other active labour market interventions).