LocationsLearning from Traditions: Indigenous Fishing Wisdom in the Solomon Islands
August 8, 2024
Fishing boats in the Solomon Islands
Honiara, Solomon Islands – International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is commemorated on 9 August each year to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world's indigenous population, their cultures, customs, and wisdom.
It also recognizes the achievements and contributions that Indigenous traditions make to improve current world issues, especially in areas of conservation, the environment, and sustainable development.
A good example of these traditions is the traditional fishing methods of Solomon Islands that Solomon Islands National University (SINU) aims to preserve, thanks to a grant from the Small Grants Programme funded by the Global Environment Fund and implemented by UNDP in Solomon Islands.
To commemorate this day, the Department of Fisheries Studies at SINU announced the launch of a groundbreaking study aimed at preserving and integrating the indigenous fishing knowledge of Solomon Islands. The initiative seeks to document the traditional fishing practices that have sustained Solomon Islander communities for generations, while exploring ways to blend these practices with modern scientific approaches to enhance sustainable fisheries resource management.
The project addresses concerns over the potential loss of indigenous fishing practices across provinces due to modernization and environmental changes. By documenting these practices, the department aims to safeguard the invaluable heritage and demonstrate its relevance in making sustainable contemporary fisheries management.
Indigenous fishing methods in the Solomon Islands
Isabel Province: Gria’a Fishing Net
The Gria’a, crafted from the bark of a local tree, is deeply embedded in the cultural and spiritual life of these communities.
Research teams have focused on the communities around Thousand Ships Bay, where the traditional Gria’a net is used primarily for catching skipjack tuna. Rituals performed before fishing highlight the community's cultural values and respect for the environment. However, the knowledge and practice of using the Gria’a are gradually vanishing. The department prefers to preserve this tradition and integrate it with current fishing methods to ensure a more effective and sustainable practice.
Malaita Province: Oko Fishing Technique
In the Lau Lagoon of Malaita Province, the department is working with Foueda community to document the Oko fishing technique. This old traditional method is older than net fishing involving use of brush ropes (Kulo and Hata) sourced from mainland swamps and spears. The technique relies on an in-depth understanding of oceanographic features and fish behavior, with the unique sound created by the ropes scaring fish into seeking shelter on the seafloor where they are caught. Documenting this technique is vital to preserving the islanders' deep ecological knowledge while promoting sustainable fishing.
Makira Province: Aohe Eel Trap
In Central Bouro, Makira Province, the focus is on the Aohe Eel Trap, an essential tool for inland communities with limited access to sea fish. Made from Pandanus vine (Freycinetia excelsa), the trap is ingeniously designed to catch eels while allowing by-catch to escape. Deployed at night and retrieved the following day, the trap's use is declining due to modern times and the gradual loss of knowledge. The department not only aims to document Aohe's holistic fishing technique but also retrieve its practice giving it back to the new generation of the community.
By integrating these traditional practices with modern techniques, the Department of Fisheries Studies aims to establish a more effective and environmentally friendly fishing approach, making it sustainable to local contexts. The initiative not only preserves cultural heritage but also enhances the sustainability and resilience of precious Solomon Islands' fisheries resources.
For more information or media inquiries please contact:
Daniel C. Gonzalez | Communications Specialist, UNDP Solomon Islands Office | (E) daniel.calderon.gonzalez@undp.org | Phone: +677 7740 740/ +34 656 565 270
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