The climate change and oceanographic variability in the SW Atlantic influences, directly and indirectly, the ecosystems, climate, economy, and general well being of a substantial portion of the Americas. Fishery is an activity strongly affected by these climatic changes. Considering that this proposal aims to study the effect of climate and environmental variability on the artisanal fisheries in the SW Atlantic, specifically in the Patos Lagoon region, the understanding of fisheries alterations by climate changes and its impacts on fisherfolks, fisheries communities, and regional/local society have an important role to society and a crucial relevance in terms of policy to the region.

The information produced within this proposal allows to identify the potential intervention in the policy process to integrate fisher folk knowledge of adaptive strategies to climate variability and change. It will also devise measures to mitigate socioeconomic impacts resulting of the global changes.

Results will generate knowledge on vulnerability that will increase the capacity of stakeholder groups to both assess vulnerability and risks related to global change, and to participate in policy decisions to limit socio-economic impacts of climate change.