An increasingly warm sea
On the Caribbean coast, the Garífuna communities of Trujillo Bay in Honduras are already feeling how climate change is transforming their environment. Sea Level Rise (SLR) and changes in ocean currents are altering coastal ecosystems. According to a report by the Organization of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector of the Central American Isthmus (OSPESCA), in 2016 fishing in Central America decreased by 25% due to climatic factors such as rising water temperatures and species migration. This means less fishing available for thousands of coastal families. In addition, the scourge of intense hurricanes such as Eta and Iota in 2020 will erode the beaches that protect Garifuna communities.
The impact on Garifuna artisanal fisheries
Artisanal fishing is the heart of the Garifuna economy and an essential part of their traditional diet. However, artisanal fishermen are noticing worrisome changes. Scientists explain that ocean warming is pushing several species into deeper waters, far beyond the reach of artisanal nets. Also, corals and mangroves important for fish reproduction are suffering: rising temperatures, ocean acidification and salinization of coastal lagoons weaken these ecosystems. For Garifuna communities, this translates into fewer fish on their shores and dwindling fish species.
Voices of a resilient community
Despite the difficulties, the Garifuna spirit is resilient. In every village of Trujillo Bay, fishermen are seen rowing or casting nets in the early morning hours with hope intact. Many remember how their grandparents could fish in abundance. Today, however, some days they return with almost empty nets.
This contrast illustrates what scientists call “shifting baselines”: each generation perceives the state of the ecosystem it knows as normal, without realizing how much it has deteriorated compared to the past. Thus, today’s youth may grow up believing that scarce fisheries are the norm, without imagining the abundance that once existed. However, the stories of elders act as a living memory of what has been lost and what can still be recovered.
Adaptation and sustainable practices
Far from sitting idly by, Garifuna communities are implementing adaptation and sustainable development strategies based on their traditional knowledge and new initiatives. For example, faced with the loss of coconut trees (living barriers), the Honduran Black Fraternal Organization (OFRANEH) has established nurseries of native coastal plants to reforest the dunes and create natural barriers against the waves. Although small-scale, these replanting efforts help slow the coastal erosion that eats away at Garifuna beaches.
Honduran Garifuna communities have embraced the idea of locally managed marine protected areas. In 2018, the mayors of Trujillo and Santa Fe together with fishermen signed a pact for fisheries conservation and proposed Fisheries Recovery Zones (PRZs) at key sites in the bay. Working together with biologists from the Center for Marine Studies (CEM), they identified critical reproduction areas (Cayo Blanco) to declare them temporary no-fishing zones to allow stocks to regenerate. This measure, supported by artisanal fishermen, reflects a growing understanding: protecting mangroves, corals and fish nurseries today will mean more abundant fisheries tomorrow. Several fishermen participated as “community scientists,” monitoring reef health and reporting sightings of key species, thus integrating local knowledge with science.
Partnerships for a sustainable future
An important ally is the Commonwealth of Garifuna Municipalities of Honduras (MAMUGAH), which together with international organizations has integrated “climate-smart strategies” into local development plans, ensuring a more resilient future for artisanal fisheries and marine biodiversity in the area. Advocacy groups such as OFRANEH also advocate for fair policies ranging from the protection of the 3 nautical mile coastal zone for artisanal fishing to prior consultation on projects to safeguard Garifuna livelihoods and territory.
Ultimately, the story emerging from Trujillo Bay is one of hope and adaptation. In the face of a changing climate, Garifuna communities are searching for solutions: combining scientific data with the ancestral wisdom of those who have always lived by the sea. Sustainable development initiatives and the support of committed organizations show a way forward. These coastal communities illustrate how, with ingenuity and solidarity, it is possible to face the tide of climate change and emerge stronger, protecting both the Garifuna identity and the natural wealth that surrounds them.
