Livelihood vulnerability of small-scale fishermen’s households to climate variability in Bengkulu City, Indonesia

¹ Department of Agricultural Socio-Economics, University of Bengkulu, Jl. WR. Supratman, Kandang Limun, Bengkulu, 38371, Indonesia
² Center for Sustainable Food Systems, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
³ Department of Agricultural Socio-Economics, Gadjah Mada University, Bulaksumur, Caturtunggal, Sleman, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: gita.mulyasari@unib.ac.id

Abstract

The relevance of this study to climate change lies in its examination of climate variability—encompassing fluctuations in temperature, rainfall, and seasonal patterns—which directly reflects global climate change dynamics. Such variability has profound implications for small-scale capture fisheries, influencing marine productivity, increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, and generating uncertainty in fishing seasons. By employing the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) based on the IPCC framework, this study systematically evaluates the exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity of small-scale fishing households to climate-induced stressors. The sampling method employed was accidental sampling, involving 100 small-scale fishermen engaged in one-day fishing activities. The results showed that the LVI index value of 0.234 indicates a low level of livelihood vulnerability of fishermen's households. However, strengthening adaptive capacity remains needed to address future climate uncertainty. Regression analysis showed that age, ship ownership, and fishing distance significantly influence vulnerability, whereas fishing experience and household size did not. The coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.590 indicates that the model explains 59% of the variation in livelihood vulnerability. These findings underscore the importance of adaptation strategies and risk-based policies in enhancing the resilience of small-scale fishers to climate-related stress.