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Climate change: A pointer to increased small-scale fisher drowning deaths
Ranaivo A Rasolofoson1,2,3, Horace Owiti Onyango4,5, Fonda Jane Awuor5
1Duke University Marine Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America.
Plos One
|May 22, 2024
Summary
Drowning is a major public health issue, especially for small-scale fishers. Bad weather, combined with non-use of safety gear, significantly increases drowning deaths in fisheries.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Environmental Science
- Fisheries Management
Background:
- Drowning is a significant public health concern, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries.
- Small-scale fishers face elevated occupational drowning risks, exacerbated by climate change-induced extreme weather events.
- Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake, experiences high fishing pressure and is projected to face increased thunderstorm activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between weather conditions and fisher drowning deaths in Lake Victoria.
- To identify co-occurring risk factors contributing to fatal drowning incidents among fishers.
- To explore stakeholder perspectives and opportunities for mitigating drowning risks in small-scale fisheries.
Main Methods:
- Verbal autopsies were conducted with individuals knowledgeable about recent fatal drowning incidents.
- Data were collected on deceased fishers and incident circumstances across 43 landing sites on Lake Victoria's Kenyan shore.
- Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders gathered community perspectives on drowning risks.
Main Results:
- Bad weather was cited as the cause for 41.8% of fatal drownings.
- Non-use of life jackets (69.5%) and navigation equipment (67.8%) frequently co-occurred with bad weather.
- Stakeholder analysis identified opportunities for improved risk communication and mitigation strategies.
Conclusions:
- Fatal drownings among small-scale fishers are often multifactorial, involving weather and safety equipment non-use.
- Addressing multiple risk factors concurrently is crucial for effective drowning mitigation.
- Interventions targeting boat operators, manufacturers, and management levels are needed to reduce fisher drowning risks globally.
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