Women in Small-Scale Fisheries of in Sundarbans: Bargaining with Risk and Uncertainty of Life Under a Changing Climate
摘要
Fisherwomen engaged in small-scale fisheries (SSF) in the Sundarbans are at the frontline of an increasingly uncertain and precarious existence shaped by the intensifying impacts of climate change. Their lives are deeply intertwined with the fragile estuarine ecosystems, where rising sea levels, erratic weather patterns, frequent cyclones, and salinity intrusion have not only disrupted traditional fishing practices but also intensified the risks to their livelihoods and well-being. This study explores how women in the Sundarbans negotiate these multifaceted vulnerabilities through adaptive strategies, informal networks, and community-based resilience. It sheds light on their silent yet significant contributions to household income, food security, and ecosystem stewardship, often underrecognized in mainstream fisheries policy. The findings underscore the urgent need for gender-sensitive climate adaptation frameworks and inclusive fisheries governance that account for the lived realities of these fisherwomen who continually bargain with risk and uncertainty under a changing climate.