Issue
Maldivian fishing communities are highly dependent on fisheries for their livelihoods. Escalating impacts of climate change, such as coral bleaching and the decline in fish stocks, make their vulnerabilities more pronounced, threatening both food security and income generation.
How we are helping
This project aims to address the urgent need for proactive measures to safeguard the socio-economic sustainability of these fishing communities by gathering insights into the evolving conditions for fisherfolks, identifying policy gaps, and developing policy recommendations.
About the project
Fisheries in the Maldives account for almost 96% of exports. Fishing communities are highly dependent on this vital industry for employment and food security, which is threatened by the escalating impacts of climate change. Climate-induced impacts such as coral bleaching, decline in fish stocks, and habitat destruction exacerbate vulnerabilities, especially for marginalised communities.
Project partners, Maldives Resilient Reefs, will combine qualitative research and policy analysis to document the impacts of climate change on fisheries and fishing communities. It will seek to identify existing policy gaps within key regulatory documents, such as the Maldives Fisheries Act (2019), the Fisheries Regulation of Maldives (2019), and Fisheries Management Plans, and develop policy recommendations for improved integration of climate change considerations.
This will be achieved by:
- Documenting the experiences of fisherfolks in two regions to understand climate impacts on fisheries.
- Reviewing national laws and fisheries management plans to identify gaps in current policies.
- Producing policy recommendations for integrating climate resilience into fisheries management interventions.
- Creating a film documentary highlighting climate change impacts on Maldivian fisherfolks.
- Convening meetings with policy-makers to share findings and advocate for policy changes.
As a result of the project, it is hoped that there is an enhanced awareness of climate change impacts on fisheries among communities, policymakers, and the public, resulting in updates to fisheries management plans that uphold sustainable and climate-resilient practices to safeguard fisherfolks’ livelihoods.
Project Partners
Maldives Resilient Reefs (MRR) exists to restore Maldivian coral reefs as climate resilient ecosystems for the benefit of people, nature and the economies that depend on them. MRR’s strategic intervention areas are: i) increasing effective marine protection to build climate resilience in Maldives; ii) improving the sustainability of reef-based fisheries in Maldives; iii) improving environmentally responsible tourism; and iv) strengthening local capacities for marine resource management.
Blue Marine Foundation has the vision of a healthy ocean forever, for everyone. Blue Marine works with governments, fishermen, communities and other NGOs to restore the ocean to health by working towards the protection of 30% of the ocean from all extractive activities and sustainable management in the other 70%. Since 2016, Blue Marine has been supporting climate-resilient reefs in Maldives. This has meant working for the increase of effective marine protection, maintaining the sustainability of coral reef fisheries, promoting sustainable tourism and increasing local capacities for marine conservation.
We support people's participation in democracy and development by providing grants, platforms, and expertise.
