Stockholm university

Felicity PikePhD Student

About me

My interests involve seascape ecology, sustainable management of marine resources and the representation of women in fishery research and policy-making. Currently, my PhD investigates gender-based differences in the management and implementation of marine protected areas (MPAs) within tropical seascapes (Mexico and Tanzania).  I’m interested in how MPAs impact men and women resource users differently especially in regards to food security, access to alternative livelihoods and adaptive capacity to key environmental challenges, i.e. ecosystem degradation and climate change.

My thesis is part of the project “Social-ecological analysis of gendered effects of Marine Protected Areas – SEAgender”, and is supervised by Professor Maricela de la Torre-Castro and Lars Lindström (Department of Political Science).
I'm also a member of the Indo-Pacific Seagrass Network which investigates linkages between seagrass, fisheries and human well-being across the Indo-Pacific region. Previously, I've also been involved in ecological surveys looking at benthic vegetation (seagrass & macroalgae) and associated fauna within Baltic Sea projects.

Teaching

Teaching on the following courses:

-  Environmental Management Studies for The Biology Earth Science Programme GE5037

- International Environmental Management GE7084

- Ecosystem Service Management GE2025

- Political Ecology - Land Use and Natural Resources in a Local to Global Perspective GE7075

- Tellus I Physical Geography GE2020

- Green infrastructure in Forestry and Agriculture GE7070

- Case Studies of Environmental Impact Assessments GE7071

Publications

A selection from Stockholm University publication database

  • Women and adaptive capacity to climate change in East African seascapes - Zanzibar as an example

    2022. Maricela de la Torre-Castro (et al.). Frontiers in Marine Science 9

    Article

    As the climate crisis persists, there is a crucial need to increase knowledge on adaptive capacity and the underlying factors building it. This is particularly important for disadvantaged groups, such as coastal women in East Africa. Women's livelihoods in these seascapes are and will be more severely affected by climate change and the capacity of East African states to deal with these challenges is limited in terms of financial and human capital. In this research, we investigated the underlying factors building the adaptive capacity of coastal women in Zanzibar (Unguja Island), Tanzania. Coastal women (N=117) were interviewed in villages around the island to gather information about potential factors supporting adaptive capacity. This was analysed applying Cinner et al (2018) five domains typology for adaptive capacity, i.e. assets, flexibility, organizations, learning and agency. The results show that women had relatively low adaptive capacity, extended poverty and very high dependence on seaweed farming of red algae, a livelihood providing low income and already being seriously affected by climate variability and change. Women's observations of key variables related to environmental changes corresponded to most scientific findings. It was, however, unclear how that knowledge is useful and enhances adaptive capacity. Adaptive capacity was generally low but individual differences were found in which ten women had a high income. The results show that the factors underlying adaptive capacity are complex and interact with each other, being positive, negative and unclear. Many of the identified factors deserve future research. This study adds to the pool of knowledge by addressing women (not only men); coastal ecosystems (as land and freshwater systems are more studied) and the individual level (since most studies focus on national and community levels). The study illustrates that institutional renewal, bridging and cooperation is possible in Zanzibar bringing good news to the region.

    Read more about Women and adaptive capacity to climate change in East African seascapes - Zanzibar as an example
  • Adaptive capacity within tropical marine protected areas – Differences between men- and women-headed households

    2022. Felicity Pike, Narriman S. Jiddawi, Maricela de la Torre-Castro. Global Environmental Change 76

    Article

    Households within tropical coastal communities face a multitude of stressors related to environmental, social and economic change. To minimise negative impacts on households, a priority is to understand and if possible build adaptive capacity to enable adjustment to both extant, and anticipated stressors. Adaptive capacity may not be equally distributed across households due to social differences and inequalities, including gender. In this study we sought to understand whether the factors underlying adaptive capacity differ between men- and women-headed households across three marine protected areas (MPAs) in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Adaptive capacity was significantly higher in men-headed households compared to women-headed households between different MPAs as a whole, however significant differences were not found for men and women-headed households within the MPAs. The factors underlying adaptive capacity were investigated through boosted regression trees, a relatively novel approach within the field, and found to be similar between men and women counterparts. These factors were agency, material conditions, low ecosystem dependence, education, occupational multiplicity and needs satisfaction (i.e. a poverty indicator) which was singularly important in women-headed households. While the factors themselves were similar in men and women–headed households, gendered differences were found regarding differing levels in the identified factors. Accordingly, the processes that underly the differences found should be addressed within initiatives seeking to understand and build adaptive capacity.

    Read more about Adaptive capacity within tropical marine protected areas – Differences between men- and women-headed households
  • Intertidal gleaning fisheries: Recognising local-scale contributions and management scenarios

    2024. Felicity Pike, Narriman S. Jiddawi, Lina Mtwana Nordlund. Marine Policy 162

    Article

    Intertidal gleaning is a widespread means through which women participate in the fishery harvest sector. However, the fishery is often under recognised in management and policy-making. Accordingly, there is a need to further our understanding of the fishery, and how local factors may help or hinder effective management. This study focuses on Zanzibar, Tanzania, using focus group discussions (FGDs) and interviews to investigate local-scale contributions from gleaning in seagrass dominated areas – which are particularly frequented gleaning grounds locally, and more widely in the Indo-Pacific region. The study also gathered insight into how gleaners perceived different management scenarios used elsewhere within the small-scale fishery sector. Despite being typically viewed as a sustenance means, gleaning was found to be primarily an economic activity, mainly through catching the bivalve, Anadara antiquata, and commercial gastropod species (Chicoreus ramosus and Pleuroploca spp). FGD respondents held positive pre-conceived ideas about rotating no-take zone scenarios as a management strategy, as well as indicating preferences for community-based measures. In order for no-take zones to have a higher chance of success, further investigation is needed to understand the life histories of commonly gleaned species in order to inform rotation periods, as well as developing means of cross-community cooperation due to the shared, open access nature of intertidal zones. These results demonstrate the economic importance of gleaning for coastal women in Zanzibar, who have invaluable insights, built on lived experience and local knowledge, which could enable and benefit a more inclusive management system.

    Read more about Intertidal gleaning fisheries

Show all publications by Felicity Pike at Stockholm University