Abstract for: Climate, migration, and livelihood resilience among fishers in the Bay of Ranobe, Madagascar

Climate change is reshaping coastal livelihoods in Madagascar, where environmental stressors intersect with sociocultural systems and livelihood decisions. In the Southwest, repeated droughts are driving inland farmers to migrate to coastal areas inhabited by fishing communities, intensifying competition over declining marine resources. Fish stocks are under pressure due to reef degradation, extreme weather, and increased use of unsustainable gear by new fishers. We conducted a parallel mixed-methods pilot study in a coastal community Betsibaroky, integrating qualitative data on fisher perceptions with quantitative assessments of gear use, income, and livelihood choices. This preliminary causal loop diagram links migration, resource use, adaptive coping, and environmental stressors in complex feedback loops. This work advances transdisciplinary public health by integrating local knowledge and complex dynamics into frameworks for health-relevant interventions.