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Indigenous Knowledge of Artisanal Fisherfolks on Climate Change Adaptation in Ondo State, Nigeria

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Climate Change Strategies: Handling the Challenges of Adapting to a Changing Climate

Part of the book series: Climate Change Management ((CCM))

Abstract

This research investigated the Indigenous knowledge of artisanal fisherfolks in Ondo State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used. Two coastal communities (Aiyetoro and Igbobini) and two riverine inland communities (Ogbese and Owena) were purposefully selected because of extensive fishing activities in the region. Fifty respondents were randomly chosen from each fishing community and interviewed using a structured questionnaire and interview schedule. A total of two hundred respondents provided information on matters related to climate change adaptation. All respondents (85% male; 63% married) were literate and answered questions based on their geographical locations and personal experiences. The results revealed a high awareness of climate change among the respondents. The results also revealed that the methods of adapting to climate change vary across the communities and are informed by local Indigenous knowledge and practices. The impacts of climate change were most acutely felt by the communities via adverse effects on their fishing business. Some fisherfolk indicated using “spiritual approaches” and “prayers” to adapt to the effects of climate change. Outlining unique Indigenous perceptions and perspectives, this mixed methods study presents Indigenous practices of adapting to climate change, along with arising opportunities for further scientific research.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Most recent official figures available. Projections by the Ondo State Bureau of Statistics put the estimated State population at approximate 5.2 million. http://www.ondostatistics.org/ondo_profile.php.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Samuel O. Akande (Ph.D.), Centre for Space Research and Applications (CESRA), The Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Nigeria, for assistance with visualisations, and Miss Fawale Iyanu for research assistance in the communities. Finally, the authors wish to thank the community members in Aiyetoro, Igbobini, Ogbese, and Owena for generously sharing their experiences and perspectives.

Institutional Review Board Statement

This field research was approved by the Ethical Committee for Human Research and Laboratory Animals of the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria (Ref. No. FUTA/SAAT/07-2020-21/023). The field survey was conducted according to the human and animal use and care regulations of the Canadian Council on Animal Care Guidelines and Protocol Review (Canadian Council on Animal Care 1993/2020).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

    Mosunmola Lydia Adeleke

  2. Graduate Research School, Alphacrucis University College, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Johannes M. Luetz

  3. School of Social Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Johannes M. Luetz

  4. School of Law and Society, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, Australia

    Johannes M. Luetz

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  1. Mosunmola Lydia Adeleke
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Correspondence to Johannes M. Luetz .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Research and Transfer Centre "Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management", Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

  2. Research and Transfer Centre "Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management", Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany

    Marina Kovaleva

  3. Department of Life Sciences, Universidade Aberta, Lisbon, Portugal

    Fátima Alves

  4. College of Architecture and Planning, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

    Ismaila Rimi Abubakar

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Adeleke, M.L., Luetz, J.M. (2023). Indigenous Knowledge of Artisanal Fisherfolks on Climate Change Adaptation in Ondo State, Nigeria. In: Leal Filho, W., Kovaleva, M., Alves, F., Abubakar, I.R. (eds) Climate Change Strategies: Handling the Challenges of Adapting to a Changing Climate. Climate Change Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28728-2_23

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