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Editor's note
Welcome to this issue of the Women in Fisheries Bulletin, which
highlights gender issues in development, social issues in fishing
communities, women’s fishing activities and subsistence fisheries.
In the first article, “Development of marine resources, fisheries
policies and women’s rights in the Pacific Islands”, Vina Ram-Bidesi
reflects on the importance of marine resources in the Pacific
Islands. She also analyses the current issues in fisheries policies
and how they affect
women in the region. She points out that the basic problems of
limited
access to resources and subordination continue to persist for women.
In
addition, new and complex problems are now facing women because of
globalization of the fishing industry. These require a greater
evaluation
of fisheries policies at a higher level and the involvement of women
in
decision-making at national, regional and international levels to
help
reduce the negative impacts of the global fish trade.
There are two research reports on gender issues in the Pacific
Islands. In
the paper on “Combining traditional and new fishing techniques”,
Mecki
Kronen describes fishing techniques used by fishers from Niue, Papua
New
Guinea, and Wallis and Futuna. Her paper discusses the commonalities
and differences of fisherwomen and fishermen, the techniques and the
boat transport that they use, habitats that they prefer to target,
and their
productivity. In the second report, Ferral Lasi and Mecki Kronen
discuss
the ungakoa fishery in Niue and the Cook Islands. Ungakoa are
vermetid
worms and are regarded as a rare fishery. In the case of fishing
communities
surveyed in the Cook Islands (Aitutaki, Mangaia and Rarorotanga) and
in
Niue, the ungakoa emerged as one of the most sought-after local
seafood
specialties. The authors note that the ungakoa fishery was developed
in areas
where people have access to other highly exploited invertebrate
species,
such as giant clams, sea cucumbers, sea urchins and crustaceans.
There are two case studies on women’s fishing activities. In the Yap
case
study, Mecki Kronen and Andy Tafileichig describe traditional marine
resource management and the role of fishermen and fisherwomen. There
is a clear distinction in gender roles. Men are mostly engaged in
fishing
for finfish, while women are engaged in reef and soft benthos
collection.
Fishermen also have diverse fishing activities, including
invertebrate
collection, free diving for lobsters and giant clams. Men may also
collect
other invertebrate species while on their way to fishing. This is
strongly
influenced by Yapese traditions and culture. Yapese communities
still
enjoy a traditional lifestyle where each household has about two
members
regularly fishing. Seafood consumed is from their catch or given as
gifts
from a family or community member.
In Fiji, Lilian Sauni, Veikila Vuki, Susan Paul and Marica
Rokosawa discuss women’s role in the subsistence
fishery in Nadoria. Women fish for both subsistence purposes and for
income. Seafood is the main
protein component of households’ diets, and subsistence fishing
plays a vital role in supporting village
households. The sale of marine products contributes to household
income in villages. Revenue from the
sale of fish and marine products are spent on school fees and buying
household necessities. Women’s ability
to earn income and contribute financially also enables them to
participate more actively in household
decision-making.
In a study of subsistence fisheries and fish consumption patterns in
Lau Lagoon, Solomon Islands, Toata
Molea and Veikila Vuki reveal that fish constitutes the major
component of the diet of the lagoon’s
inhabitants. The study shows that fish consumed at the household
level constituted a small proportion
of the day’s catch because the larger fish are sold at market
outlets. Fish were used in exchange for food
crops and other agricultural produce from the Malaita mainland.
Fishing operations for the lagoon people
have shifted from traditional communal setting into a family or
individual business. Several reasons
account for this. Fishing gear that was not accessible in the past,
is now available through government
fisheries centres in rural areas or through commercial shops in
Honiara. There is a preference for modern
fishing gear because it is easier to handle. A fisherman or woman
can fish alone without the help of
others in the village. Traditional fishing gear often requires the
participation of the whole community. In
addition, modern fishing gear is now affordable and can be purchased
using modern currency instead
of custom money.
In “Poverty in paradise?”, Susan and Leon Zann describe the rapid
changes in traditional Fijian villages
due to modernization. They discuss major indicators of poverty in
three Fijian coastal fishing villages.
Two of the three villages surveyed fall within the category of
“extreme poverty”, while the other village
was considered to be in the “moderate poverty” category. Although
there was no evidence of starvation,
diets were considered poor in all three villages because of
excessive amounts of starch.
In her paper “The ‘culture of silence’ and fisheries management”,
Aliti Vunisea briefly discusses management
initiatives in Pacific Island countries. She describes some of the
challenges of promoting fisheries
management while also allowing people to meet their economic and
social livelihood demands.
A brief summary of community engagement in Ailuk in the Marshall
Islands is presented by Sylvia Pinca
and Frankie Harriss. The authors attribute the success of the
project to several factors, including strong
community leadership, partnerships with government agencies and
researchers, socioeconomic surveys,
science-based reef surveys, partnerships with funding agencies and
educational institutions, and nongovernmental
agencies.
This issue of the Women in Fisheries bulletin discusses issues of
poverty in fishing villages, women’s fishing
practices, subsistence fishing, and issues of management and
development. I welcome any feedback on
the articles in this issue and encourage you to submit articles
about gender and community fishing issues
from your country and region.
Veikila Vuki
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Contents
Development of marine resources,
fisheries policies and women’s rights in the Pacific Islands
V. Ram-Bidesi (pdf 100ko)
Combining traditional and new fishing techniques: Fisherwomen
in Niue, Papua New Guinea and Wallis and Futuna
M. Kronen (pdf:
562ko)
“Ungakoa” – fishing for a rare delicacy
in the South Pacific
F. Lasi and M. Kronen (pdf: 308ko)
Traditional rights and management
of Yap’s coastal fisheries and the role
of fisherwomen
M. Kronen and A. Tafileichig (pdf: 132ko)
Women’s fishing in Fiji: A case study
of Nadorian women in Fiji
L. Fay-Sauni et al. (pdf: 148ko)
Subsistence fishing and consumption patterns of
the saltwater people of Lau Lagoon, Malaita, Solomon Islands: A case
study of Funaafou and Niuleni islanders
T. Molea and V. Vuki (pdf: 184ko)
Poverty in paradise? Issues in poverty and
development in Fijian fishing villages
S. and L. Zann (pdf: 300ko)
The “culture of silence” and fisheries
management
A. Vunisea (pdf: 52ko)
Successful community engagement in resource
management efforts on Ailuk Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands
S. Pinca and F. Harriss (pdf: 476ko)
Complete publication (pdf:
2Mo)
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