JournalDecember of 2013]AgrometeorologyClimate 15 (Special change Issue-II) and coastal : 116-122 aquaculture (December in West 2013) Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh ... 116 Climate change and coastal aquaculture in West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh: Impacts, vulnerability, adaptations and mitigations for resilience M. MURALIDHAR*, M. KUMARAN, J. ASHOK KUMAR, J. SYAMA DAYAL, M. JAYANTHI, R. SARASWATHY, N. LALITHA, A. PANIGRAHI, A. SREENIVASA RAO1, B. MUNIYANDI and P. MURUGAN Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, 75, Santhome High Road, R.A.Puram, Chennai - 600 028, Tamil Nadu 1Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Undi, Bhimavaram - 534 199, Andhra Pradesh *E-mail:
[email protected] ABSTRACT The predictions of climate change during the recent decades viz., consistent warming trends (increase in frequency of hot days and multiple-day heat wave), increase in extreme rains, and more frequent and intense extreme weather events (flood, cyclone and drought) has greater impact on aquaculture. This impact has been disproportionately felt by small-scale farmers who are already amongst the poor and vulnerable members of the society. The present study in West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh documented the climate change events experienced by aqua farmers in brackishwater and freshwater areas and their perceptions, attitudes, risk management behaviour, adaptive capacities and impacts on aquatic farming systems through focus group discussion (FGD), extensive survey of 120 farmers through standard questionnaires, and stakeholder workshop (SW). Assessment based on consequence and livelihood scores revealed that seasonal variations with 20- 40% loss in production was the highest risk in both the areas followed by cyclone in brackishwater and high temperature in freshwater areas. Though not very common in every year, cyclones, the major extreme climatic event results in 50 to 100% loss in production.