Frédérique Fardin is a conservationist from Martinique.She is currently pursuing doctoral research at the University of Cambridge in collaboration with UNEP-WCMC (the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre ) where she investigates the importance of mangroves for coastal communities, small-scale fisheries, and climate change adaptation.She co-founded Roots of the Sea in 2020, an NGO with the mission of promoting coastal and marine conservation in Martinique, through advocacy, education, and youth training.

The interdependence between healthy coastal ecosystems and the livelihoods of small-scale fishers in the Caribbean highlights the significance of understanding fishing communities' perceptions of environmental changes. This study explores the knowledge and perceptions of fishers working around mangrove socio-ecological systems, focusing on how these perceptions relate to environmental changes, mangrove health and distribution, impacts on fisheries resources, and community well-being. Data were collected through 59 interviews with fishers in Martinique and Jamaica, along with nine meetings with environmental institutions from both the public and civil society sectors. Factors influencing fishers’ perceptions were examined, including experiences with extreme events, policy and governance, conservation projects, and affiliations with local civil society organizations. Additionally, secondary data on physical environmental changes were analyzed to assess the congruence between perceived and actual changes. Findings reveal that while fishers acknowledge environmental and climate threats, they often perceive governance restrictions and insufficient funding as more immediate threats to their livelihoods. This discrepancy between perceived and actual threats underscores the complexity of managing coastal ecosystems effectively. This study emphasizes the importance of integrating fishing communities’ perceptions into top-down vulnerability assessments and adaptation strategies. Such integration is key to creating more effective and equitable management of socio-ecological systems and ensuring that policies align with the realities faced by local communities.