Livelihood Vulnerability of Coastal Communities in Fiji and Solomon Islands to Changes in Reef Resource Availability and Climate Change
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Livelihood Vulnerability of Coastal Communities in Fiji and Solomon Islands to Changes in Reef Resource Availability and Climate Change By Akuila Labati Cakacaka Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science Dissertation Committee PD Dr. Marion Glaser Prof. Dr. Anna-Katharina Hornidge Prof. Dr. Matthias Wolff Dr. Sebastian Ferse Contents Declaration……………………………………………………………………………………vii Dedication……………………………………………………………………………………..viii Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………………ix Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………..xi Acronyms………………………………………………………………………………………xiii List of Tables………………………………………………………………………………….xv List of Figures…………………………………………………………………………………..xvii 1 Chapter 1 Introduction ..................................................................................... 1 1.1 Context of the study ......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Coral reef-based livelihoods of coastal communities ...................................................... 1 1.3 Coastal environments of the Pacific ................................................................................. 4 1.4 The Melanesian context ................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Coastal reef fisheries in the Pacific .................................................................................. 6 1.6 Reef resource dependence in the Pacific .......................................................................... 7 1.7 Customary marine tenure (CMT) systems in Melanesia .................................................. 8 1.7.1 Customary marine tenure in Solomon Islands ............................................................ 9 1.7.2 Customary marine tenure in Fiji ............................................................................... 10 1.8 Threats to reef resources ................................................................................................ 11 1.8.1 Human activities ....................................................................................................... 11 1.8.2 Availability of markets and cash economy ............................................................... 12 1.8.3 Increase in population ............................................................................................... 13 1.8.4 Climate change.......................................................................................................... 13 1.9 The Tuna industry in the Pacific .................................................................................... 14 1.10 Management responses .................................................................................................. 16 1.11 Review of coastal livelihoods in Melanesia ................................................................... 18 1.12 Research rationale .......................................................................................................... 19 1.13 Research objectives and questions ................................................................................. 20 2 Chapter 2 Concepts and Framework ........................................................... 21 2.1 Vulnerability................................................................................................................... 21 2.1.1 Concepts and origin .................................................................................................. 21 2.1.2 Definitions of vulnerability ....................................................................................... 22 2.1.3 Components of vulnerability: Exposure, Sensitivity and Adaptive Capacity........... 24 2.1.4 Models and frameworks on vulnerability ................................................................. 28 2.2 Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) ................................................................... 31 2.2.1 Defining sustainable livelihoods ............................................................................... 31 2.2.2 The origin and concepts of SLF ................................................................................ 31 2.2.3 The sustainable livelihoods framework .................................................................... 33 2.2.4 Livelihood assets ....................................................................................................... 35 2.2.5 Social-economic structures and processes ................................................................ 36 2.2.6 Livelihood strategies and outcomes .......................................................................... 36 2.2.7 Uses and critiques of the sustainable livelihoods framework ................................... 37 2.3 Use of the vulnerability and sustainable livelihood framework in this research ........... 38 3 Chapter 3: Methods .........................................................................................40 3.1 Study Region .................................................................................................................. 40 3.1.1 Country selection ...................................................................................................... 40 3.1.2 Research site selection criteria .................................................................................. 40 3.1.3 Fiji ............................................................................................................................. 41 3.1.4 Solomon Islands ........................................................................................................ 45 3.2 Research Strategy ........................................................................................................... 49 3.2.1 Methodological approach.......................................................................................... 49 3.2.2 Data collection .......................................................................................................... 51 3.2.3 Household surveys .................................................................................................... 52 3.2.4 Selection of key informants ...................................................................................... 53 3.2.5 Focus group discussions ........................................................................................... 54 3.3 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................. 56 3.3.1 Qualitative data ......................................................................................................... 56 3.3.2 Quantitative data ....................................................................................................... 56 3.4 Analysis for drivers of reef resource use in Fiji and Solomon Islands .......................... 57 3.5 Analysis methods for characterizing livelihood vulnerability and adaptive capacity of communities in Fiji and Solomon Islands ................................................................................. 57 3.5.1 Exposure ................................................................................................................... 57 3.5.2 Sensitivity ................................................................................................................. 58 3.5.3 Adaptive capacity...................................................................................................... 59 3.5.4 Data analysis ............................................................................................................. 63 3.6 Analysis for adaptation and transformative strengths of communities and households to exit a declining fishery in Fiji and Solomon Islands ................................................................. 64 3.6.1 Exit fishery ................................................................................................................ 64 3.6.2 Prevention measures to address decreasing reef resources ....................................... 64 3.6.3 Data analysis ............................................................................................................. 65 3.6.4 Classification tree model........................................................................................... 65 3.6.5 Multiple regression ................................................................................................... 65 3.6.6 Impacts of cyclone Winston on households in the communities of Tuatua, Nakodu and Natokalau ........................................................................................................................ 68 4 Chapter 4: Drivers of Reef Resource Use in Fiji and Solomon Islands .....69 4.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 69 4.2 Results ............................................................................................................................ 70 4.2.1 Proximate and distal drivers of reef resource use ..................................................... 70 4.2.2 Food and income ....................................................................................................... 71 4.2.3 Fishing gear and method ........................................................................................... 74 4.2.4 Markets ....................................................................................................................