Incorporating Climate Change into Ecosystem Approaches to Fisheries and Aquaculture Management in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Vietnam

Project title: Incorporating Climate Change into Ecosystem Approaches to Fisheries and Aquaculture Management in Sri Lanka and Vietnam

Background

Vietnam and Sri Lanka are among the most vulnerable countries in the world to the impacts of climate change. Sea level rise, temperature changes, flooding, and changes in coastal resources are threatening the livelihoods of small-scale fisher communities. 

There is an urgent need to both better understand the likely impacts of climate change on marine diversity, fisheries, aquaculture and coastal communities and how to develop governance strategies to address these impacts.

Strengthened local education and research capacity on climate change

Nha Trang University in Vietnam, Ruhuna University in Sri Lanka and the University of Tromsø and University of Bergen, will jointly strengthen academic capacity in the south to address climate change and its impacts on fisheries and aquaculture.

The project will establish an international multidisciplinary master program in Marine Ecosystem Based Management and Climate Change, train PhD-students and Post Doc fellows, and share scientific findings on the impacts of Climate change to incorporate ecosystem approaches to fisheries and aquaculture management plans and activities at provincial and district levels in Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

New Master program in Marine Ecosystem Management and Climate Change

A new international master program has been developed on marine ecosystems and climate change. It is the first English taught master program at Nha Trang University where Nha Trang is the degree-granting institution. Upon completion students are expected to advice and do research on the changes of marine ecosystems due to climate change, recommend develop and analyse government policies, and engage in work to mitigate the effects of climate change on ecosystems management.

Key goals and achievements

Overall goal

Strengthening education and research capacity in climate change and natural resource management in two universities in South-Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

The objectives of the project are

1. Increased and strengthened ability of universities in the South to educate qualified personnel on the marine ecosystem management and climate change.
2. Increase and enhancement of research capacity of universities in South to assess climate change impacts on biodiversity, fisheries and aquaculture; vulnerability and adaptation.
3. Improvement of links between sciences and policy communities to enable adaptation planning and improve capacity to manage marine resources and fisheries and aquaculture sectors under the impact of climate change. 
4. Institutional development/gender mainstreaming (facilities access, small infrastructure, appropriate policies, regulations) to facilitate sustainable development of education and research in management of marine resources and fisheries.