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Drowning is an overlooked public health concern and drowning risk is dependent on environmental risk factors. The preponderance of drowning deaths occurs in low- and middle-income countries. Small-scale fishers face high occupational risk of drowning. Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of storms, thereby exacerbating fishers’ risks and creating a need to examine the contribution of storms to fisher drowning deaths for the development of mitigation strategies. We examined this relationship between weather and fisher drowning deaths in Lake Victoria, which is Africa’s largest lake, a site of high fishing pressure, and where climate change is predicted to increase thunderstorms. We conducted a verbal autopsy with people knowledgeable about recent fatal fisher drowning incidents to collect information about the deceased fishers and circumstances surrounding the incidents across 43 landing sites in the Kenyan shore of Lake Victoria. Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders also elucidated community perspectives on drowning risks. Fatal drownings were often attributed to bad weather (41.8%). Other risk factors, such as non-use of life jacket and navigation equipment, co-occurred with bad weather at high rates (69.5% and 67.8%, respectively) to jointly contribute to fatal drowning incidents. Such co-occurrence of risk factors indicates that actions across multiple risk factors can help mitigate the issue. Stakeholder analysis revealed a range of opportunities for improved communication of risks and action to mitigate risks across boat operators and manufacturers, as well as multiple levels of management. Across global small-scale fisheries, limited use of safety equipment and intensive fishing pressure may coincide with increases in extreme weather events, necessitating action to address current and mitigate future drowning risks to small-scale fishers. 

Lake Victoria has experienced progressive eutrophication which has exacerbated the proliferation of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs). Fueled by anthropogenic nutrient loadings and climate change, these cHABs are increasing in distribution, duration, and frequency, particularly in areas such as the Winam Gulf. With limited resources and infrastructure, local communities have been left vulnerable as they rely on the lake for water for domestic use. Our study presents the results of a localized survey on how small-scale fishing communities perceive and respond to the threat of cHABs in the Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria, Kenya. We used a mixed-methods approach of quantitative and qualitative data-gathering techniques to elucidate the perceptions and consequences of cHABs in local communities. Our results demonstrate most (93.67%) respondents were aware of cHABs in the lake, but were not knowledgeable of cHAB threats to human and animal health. Respondents noted that fish catches decreased during cHABs, with this economic consequence serving as a primary concern of communities. Notably, respondents altered their use of lake water during perceived cHAB events and relied on other means of water treatment or alternative water sources. Overall, cHAB information was selfsourced or passed on from community elders, with no public mechanism for adequate cHAB risk communication. Lake Victoria serves as a critical resource to the Eastern African region and requires a concerted cHAB response effort. Therefore, we recommend the development of a public awareness program to reduce cHAB exposure in these at-risk communities.