Coastal communities' responses to climate change and variability impacts: a threat to coastal and marine resources?

Climate change is real and has been causing significant effects on livelihood activities of coastal communities of Tanzania. Nevertheless, coastal communities have been resorting to various response options in trying to address such effects. Hitherto, diminutive consideration has been paid on the resulting effects of autonomous, anticipatory, or reactive adaptation strategies in practice on coastal and marine resources, which is a gap this article addressed. A total of 150 survey respondents were randomly selected from village registers for household survey. Purposive sampling procedures were used to identify key informants, discussants for focus group discussions, and selection of the study area. Findings showed that communities have been changing and diversifying their livelihood activities significantly as reported by 71% and 64% (p<0.0001) of respondents from Mlingotini and Kondo villages respectively. Most respondents acknowledged that their responses to adverse impacts of climate change was a problem to coastal and marine resources (p<0.041). Respondents affirmed to have been involved in decision-making on the use, conservation and management of aquatic ecosystems (p<0.0001). Despite their participation, degradation of ecosystems was increasing, signifying ineffective resource conservation and management. Thus, care should be taken when choosing responses to climate change impacts in coastal areas to avoid maladaptation practices.