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Note
from the editor
Three interesting articles make up this issue; one from
the region and two from far away.
The first, by Thomas Malm of Lund University, Sweden,
provides a comprehensive study of customary marine tenure
in the Kingdom of Tonga. Besides its main focus on the
causes of the decline of the management system under the
fast acting processes of urbanisation, demographic change
and general modernisation, this contribution also provides
baseline information on the local fisheries management
situation in the country.
In the second contribution, "Strategies and action plans
to conserve biological diversity: a cultural and scientific
challenge", Robert Kasisi and Peter Jacobs (both of the
School of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Environmental
Design, University of Montreal) offer a critical review
of the paths African countries have taken towards developing
biodiversity strategies, actions plans or programmes.
After briefly reviewing the origins of the biodiversity
conservation concept, the authors examine the ambiguity
inherent in such current terms as "conservation", "preservation"
and "protection". Their debate revolves around the meaning
of this concept, the origins of which are located in the
cultural and economic domains. They then look at the different
approaches used to develop biodiversity strategies and
action plans in selected African countries. Each approach
selected presents certain strengths and weaknesses. The
authors propose an approach that should allow effective
participation by all stakeholders via a deep appreciation
of traditional or local knowledge, as the "grass roots
communities’" frame of reference for natural resource
management.
More on local or traditional fisheries knowledge. Brendan
Connolly’s article takes us to Ireland and the Netherlands,
with a report on an inter-disciplinary, human ecological
case study of the relationship between fishing communities
and their marine resources. The ecological relationship
between the selected fishing communities and their marine
resources was studied by examining traditional fisheries
knowledge and practice. Traditional fisheries knowledge
was recorded by qualitative interviews. From this, a quantitative
questionnaire, containing 119 questions, was compiled.
Sixty-two questionnaires were completed. One of the major
findings was that the principle of sea tenure, in combination
with appropriate social structures, forms an important
basis for sustainable marine resource exploitation. The
regulation of fisheries was desired in all six fishing
communities studied, but equal enforcement in all regions
was stressed as being essential
In this issue we have placed major emphasis on local
knowledge. So to conclude we feel it appropriate to reprint
an important note by Bob Johannes, "The need for a centre
for the study of indigenous fishers’ knowledge".
This is taken from "Wise coastal practices for sustainable
human development - forum of discussion" put online by
UNESCO.
Happy New Year to all… you can make it even happier
for me if you keep the contributions coming!
Kenneth Ruddle (ii3k-rddl@asahi-net.or.jp)
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