Trends in climate change, coastal governance, coral reef ecology and socioeconomic variation in the Seychelles

摘要

This paper analyses the interconnections between key ecological, economic and social drivers with other multiple stressors like climate change in the context of coastal governance. Information on underlying variables that influence stakeholders' perceptions and decision-making processes on marine resources use is compared with the former types of data. Potential benefits of this research include integrating disparate information into formats that can be applied to more precise targeting of policy action on governance in coastal zones such as those of the Seychelles. Throughout March and August 2005, ecological (e.g. coral cover and fish abundance), economic (e.g. expenditure, source of income) and social (e.g. local perceptions of fish stocks, support for coastal management measures) variables were measured in four coastal communities around the islands of Mahe and Praslin in the Seychelles. Underwater visual census (UVC) was used to estimate fish size and abundance; corresponding marine habitats were also described. Stakeholders (artisanal fishers and heads of households; n = 265) were interviewed face-to-face, using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.