Artisan fishers’ perception of climate change: a case study of Pemba district, Northern Mozambique

Abstract Artisanal fishermen in coastal Mozambique are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, yet their perceptions and adaptive responses remain poorly understood. This study examines climate change awareness, attribution beliefs, and adaptation strategies among artisan fishermen in Pemba district, northern Mozambique. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 113 randomly selected artisan fishermen across three landing centers (Ruela, Chibuabuare, and Chuiba) from September to November 2024. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Climate change awareness was reported by 61.9% of respondents, with 91.15% perceiving increased temperatures and 82.3% noting decreased rainfall over the past five years. However, 72.6% attributed climate change to supernatural forces rather than anthropogenic causes. Primary information sources were radio (41.6%) and fisher-to-fisher communication (28.3%). Adaptation strategies included switching fishing gear (36.3%), avoiding juvenile catch (25.7%), and temporal fishing adjustments (15.9%). Major barriers to adaptation were poverty (41.6%) and limited financial resources (20.4%). While artisan fishermen demonstrate empirical awareness of climate change, limited scientific understanding and socioeconomic constraints hinder effective adaptation. Targeted interventions combining climate education, alternative livelihood support, and improved access to climate services are essential for building adaptive capacity in this vulnerable population.