Save Us Before We Die: Unmasking Socioecological Systems Complexities and Their Implications On Coastal Fishers' Livelihoods in Select Regions Of Yunlin, Taiwan

Abstract

This paper ranks among the initial empirical studies to explore the complex socioecological system (SES), dynamics, shifts, and their ramifications to coastal fisher communities in Taiwan. Participatory interactions with 38 respondents in Yunlin and ocean environmental data across Taiwan from 2010 to 2020 were utilized to capture SES vulnerability and resilience options for Yunlin, Taiwan. Findings revealed that Yunlin possesses valuable coastal resources that determine livelihood activities and SES functioning. The dominant fisheries resources have created unique livelihood identities, bonds, and SES networks among actors. SES and fishing-livelihood interactions are shaped along familial, community, and long-established ties. However, demographic shifts, for example, aging fisher and migrant youth populations, are altering SES interactions. With sea surface temperatures increasing by 1 degrees C, bleak fishers' livelihood futures are projected. This is worsened by massive ocean renewable energy projects, catapulting into declining livelihood benefits and coastal resource access. To mitigate these threats, diverse livelihood empowerment and SES resilience options are proposed. To expound these options, a co-designed sustainable coastal community system pathway with six critical resilience perspectives is developed. Enhancing SES and coastal communities' resilience requires a holistic understanding of micro-level SES dynamics. Thus, coastal communities' re-engagement and cross-sectional transdisciplinary research are needed. These could re-evaluate diverse spatial-temporal SES vulnerability dynamics and create better resilience perspectives for coastal fisheries and other livelihood sectors.