Navigating Climate Uncertainty: Local Cultural Strategies for Building Resilience among Nias Fishermen

Abstract

Climate change increases the vulnerability of fishing communities through weather uncertainty, changes in fishing seasons, declining catch yields, and household income instability. This study aims to formulate strategies to enhance the resilience of fishermen on Nias Island based on local culture in the face of climate change. The study employed a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis based on internal and external factors affecting fishermen’s adaptive capacity. The analysis results show an IFAS score of 2.314 and an EFAS score of 2.120, with the strategy positioned in Quadrant I (aggressive). The primary strengths of Nias fishermen stem from their cultural values and seafaring traditions, as well as their local knowledge in understanding ocean conditions and seasons. Conversely, the main weaknesses lie in the low level of processing and value addition of fishery products, as well as the weak economic capacity of fishing households. The greatest opportunities stem from the potential of fishery resources and support from capacity-building programs, while the main threats include weather uncertainty, declining catch yields, and fluctuations in the prices of fishery products. The resulting strategies focus on strengthening adaptation based on local culture, increasing the value added of fishery products, strengthening institutions, and community-based management of coastal resources. These findings indicate that local culture and traditional ecological knowledge are key assets in enhancing the resilience of Nias fishermen to climate change.