Author(s): Vasiliki Chalastani; Andreas Pantelidis; Christina Tsaimou; Vasiliki Tsoukala
Linked Author(s): Vasiliki (Vicky) Tsoukala, Vasiliki Tsoukala
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Coastal areas are increasingly threatened both by the impacts of climate change as well as human pressures. Seaports lying at the land-sea interface are considered vulnerable infrastructure, affected by sea level rise, storm surges and increased human activities. In this paper, the 16 existing fishing shelters of Cyprus are used as case study to develop a complex vulnerability index to assess and evaluate the current state of the fishing shelters. This vulnerability index includes physical, environmental, socio-economic and infrastructural indicators which describe the structural and operational components of the shelters in a holistic way. These indicators are scored and ranked to describe the degree of vulnerability of each fishing shelter and allow for comparison among shelters. The novelty of this index is that it is informed by on-site visits; questionnaires answered by local fishermen and targeted interviews with representatives of the port authorities. This study highlights the complex interactions between physical and socio-economic conditions in driving vulnerability. The results can assist decision-makers to prioritize interventions and design adaptation pathways that reduce the shelters’ vulnerability while increasing their resilience.
Year: 2022