Regional climatic variability and fisher’s adaptation to climate-induced risks in an impacted tropical floodplain wetland: a case study

The present study investigates the impact of climatic variability and fisher’s adaptation to climate-induced threats in a seasonally open floodplain wetland in West Bengal, India. The analysis of climatological trend indicated an increase in the air temperature over the last 2 decades and a gradual fall in the amount of rainfall to the tune of 36.9% from 2000 to 2019. In recent years, this wetland has witnessed notable changes in various aspects viz. reduction in average water depth (74.3%), increase in nitrate concentration (44.4%), area shrinkage (77.7%), macrophyte infestation (80%), decline in plankton diversity (54%), macro-zoo-benthos diversity (31%), fish diversity (22.8%), and fish production making the wetland fisheries more vulnerable. In view of the above, climate-resilient fisheries practice at local level is needed. In this study, the climbing perch, Anabas testudineus emerged as a significant fishery and provided a significant contribution to the tune of 34.5% supporting the livelihood of the fisher-folks. The propagation of A. testudineus, a tolerant high-value indigenous species, is proposed as an effective tool to combat the consequences of climatic variability especially the low water area and depth prevailing in the wetland. The study emphasized on the need for concerted research programs on various emerging issues in floodplain wetland fisheries, climate-resilient/tolerant fish species and documentation of adaptation strategies for sustainable floodplain wetland fisheries and livelihood security.