A Study of the Livelihood Vulnerabilities of Inland Small Scale Fishing Communities: A Case of the Kafue Bridge Fishing Camp

Abstract

This study examined the livelihood vulnerabilities of inland small-scale fishing communities, focusing on the Kafue Bridge Fishing Camp in Kafue Town, Zambia. A qualitative research approach was employed using a case study design. Data were collected from a sample of 100 respondents through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions involving fishers, fish traders, and household members within the fishing camp. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, allowing for the identification of recurring patterns, experiences, and coping strategies. The findings revealed that fishing Human - Wildlife conflict face multiple and interconnected vulnerabilities, including declining fish stocks, climate variability, inadequate fishing assets, limited access to credit and markets, weak institutional support, and poor infrastructure. These challenges resulted in unstable incomes, food insecurity, and reliance on short-term coping strategies such as borrowing, overfishing, and livelihood diversification into low-return activities. The study further found that socio-economic characteristics such as education level, fishing experience, household size, and asset ownership significantly influenced households’ adaptive capacity. Women were particularly vulnerable due to limited access to productive assets and decision-making opportunities. The findings underscore the importance of integrating livelihood considerations into fisheries management and development planning. The study concludes that reducing livelihood vulnerability among inland small-scale fishing communities requires holistic interventions that combine sustainable fisheries management, livelihood diversification, access to credit, improved infrastructure, and inclusive institutional support. The study recommends strengthening community-based fisheries governance, improving access to livelihood assets, and enhancing social protection mechanisms. Future research is encouraged to adopt comparative and longitudinal approaches to further explore livelihood vulnerability dynamics across different inland fishing communities in Zambia.