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Black Pearl Farming as an Adaptation to Coastal Climate Change

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Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies for Coastal Communities

Part of the book series: Climate Change Management ((CCM))

Abstract

Namdrik Atoll is a low-lying atoll approximately 270 miles from Majuro, the capital of the Republic of Marshall Islands, linked only by infrequent boat and plane access. The population of some 500 people consists primarily of subsistence farmers and fishers with limited social or economic safety nets. The population is already facing impacts of climate change, particularly the salination of ground water, king tides, sea level rise, and storm surges. With a strong funding commitment from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the community has recently revived the farming of black-lipped pearl oysters as a way to provide sustainable income to the farmers and the broader coastal community in order to increase resilience to climate change. During the most recent harvest, the farm harvested over 1000 pearls, with a retail value of US$40,000. Profits from the pearl farm will be re-invested back into the community through renovation of residences, procurement of water tanks and pumps, and other community development and climate change adaptation efforts. This paper will describe the strategies and results of the pearl farming efforts as a means of climate change adaptation, as well as the future prognosis.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Namdrik Atoll Development Association (NADA), Majuro, Marshall Islands

    Mattlan Zackhras

  2. Pacific-American Climate Fund, Trade and Financial Tower, Unit 1003, 32nd Street Corner 7th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, NCR, 1634, Philippines

    Payton Deeks

  3. Marine and Environmental Research Institute of Pohnpei (MERIP), Kolonia, P.O. Box 1005, Pohnpei, 96941, Federated States of Micronesia

    Simon Ellis

Authors
  1. Mattlan Zackhras
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  2. Payton Deeks
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  3. Simon Ellis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Payton Deeks .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Life Science, HAW Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

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Zackhras, M., Deeks, P., Ellis, S. (2018). Black Pearl Farming as an Adaptation to Coastal Climate Change. In: Leal Filho, W. (eds) Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies for Coastal Communities. Climate Change Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70703-7_11

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