The year 2004 has been declared the “Year of Fisheries” in Vanuatu, and
fishers on the island of Epi were keen to mark this year as a special one by
inviting the Vanuatu Maritime College (VMC) to organise training for them.
At the request of Kalo Joseph, Secretary of the South Epi Fishermen’s
Association, three VMC instructors and the VMC training vessel Etelis were at
Redstone Village on South Epi from 14–26 June to train 32 members of the
association.
Fishing is an important source of income for the South Epi people, who export
their fish to the capital, Port Vila. They will soon have an ice-making machine
installed at their Fisheries Centre and they were anxious to upgrade their
skills in preparation for its arrival.
The trainees were divided into two classes. One concentrated on fishing
techniques, fish handling and preservation. The other focused on safety at sea,
and boat and engine maintenance and repair. All the trainees attended sessions
on record-keeping and resource management, and all took part in practical
fishing trips.
There are good fishing grounds close to South Epi (including a submarine volcano
that surfaces occasionally). Nare Wolu, the fishing instructor, helped the
trainees take soundings so that they could identify the very best places to fish.
During their practical training they caught sizeable amounts of fish, including
yellowfin and dogtooth tuna, rainbow runners, sea perches, snappers, a sailfish
and three sharks. Sharks are not eaten much in Vanuatu, but the South Epi
trainees learnt how to prepare them for consumption both cooked and raw, and
found them quite tasty.
South Epi people have a variety of Honda, Mariner and Yamaha outboard engines.
August Fred, the engineering instructor, helped trainees learn how to service
these engines and do basic repairs. Most outboard engines in Vanuatu are
two-strokes, but South Epi has a 40HP four-stroke Honda that provided an
interesting new aspect to the practical training.
Boat maintenance and repair were important parts of the course too. Guided by
Soti William, the nautical instructor, trainees cleaned, repaired and painted
three fibreglass and two aluminium boats.
Instructors and trainees thoroughly enjoyed the course. VMC takes this chance to
thank the people of South Epi, and especially Kalo Joseph, for their excellent
practical organisation and their friendly hospitality.
What next?
After the South Epi course, plans had been made to run a course on Motalava
Island in the Banks Group. For reasons unrelated to fishing training, this was
cancelled at the last minute by the people of Motalava.
The fishing training team will not be idle, however. Between August and November
they will be conducting courses on Ifira Island (close to Port Vila), Ambrym in
September, Tongoa and on Paama Islands.