Impacts of Climate Change on Fish Productivity: A Quantitative Measurement

Abstract

This paper attempts to understand the climatic and socio-economic factors influencing the efficiency and thereby the livelihood of fishing community in Mumbai. Efficiency in fishing is influenced by the scale of production, technology and inputs used, socio-economic and climate sensitive factors such as temperature, current, wind, rainfall etc. A primary survey of 164 fishing households is conducted in five fishing villages of Mumbai to collect input-output and other relevant data related to socioeconomic and climatic factors. Using stochastic frontier function, it is found that the number of working days, fuel costs, number of workers along with type of family, education, electronic gadgets used in fishing and observation on temperature change significantly affects the productivity and thereby their preparedness. The fishermen belonging to nuclear family and using advanced fishing equipments along with those are observing a rise in temperature successfully adapted and their efficiency level is increased. Mostly rich and affluent fishermen are more efficient than others. The estimated technical efficiencies for the fishing households range from 0.12 to 0.87, with a mean efficiency level of 0.39. Technological advancement in the production process with large scale of operation significantly influences fishermen's awareness, adaptability to climate change and also the efficiency.