Off the hook: climate and community vulnerability of U.S. inland subsistence fisheries

Brogan, Caitlin Rose (2023) Off the hook: climate and community vulnerability of U.S. inland subsistence fisheries. Masters thesis, Northern Arizona University.

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Abstract

Inland fisheries serve as important sources of food security and nutrition in vulnerable communities globally. However, research has focused largely on low-income countries and very little information specific to subsistence inland fisheries and the communities that depend on them is available for the United States, especially in non-Indigenous populations. These hidden contributions of inland fish harvest to food security and community resilience often go unreported, masked by a fuzzy boundary between recreational and subsistence fishing activities. Complicating the understanding of these fisheries are numerous threats and the compound implications of climate change. This study addresses the relatively unexplored socio-ecological dimensions of fishing for food in the context of climate change in the U.S. Spatial analysis of demographic and ecological data informs a high-level overview of potential hotspots where inland fisheries may be more likely to serve as an under-reported contributor to food security. Surveys of fishery managers, fishers, and other relevant actors then provide a more in-depth perspective on the current perception of subsistence fishing activities and their role in climate vulnerability across scales. This study suggests recommendations and a call for further research on the interface of survival, climate change, and culture tied to inland subsistence fisheries (ISF) and the “invisible” communities whose livelihoods depend on them. Fishery managers, policymakers, and other decision-makers in fishing communities can play an important role in increasing awareness and supporting the sustainability of these undervalued socio-ecological systems.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Publisher’s Statement:	© Copyright is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Cline Library, Northern Arizona University. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
Keywords:	Climate change; Food security; Inland fisheries; Subsistence fishing
Subjects:	S Agriculture > SH Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status:	Student
Department/Unit:	Graduate College > Theses and Dissertations College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences > School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability
Date Deposited:	03 Aug 2023 17:05
Last Modified:	30 Nov 2023 08:30
URI:	https://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/6091

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