ISSN 1025-7497 South Pacific Commission TRADITIONAL Marine Resource Management and Knowledge Number 9 — February 1998 INFORMATION BULLETIN Group Co-ordinator and Bulletin Editor: Kenneth Ruddle, Matsugaoka-cho 11-20, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo-ken 662, Japan. [Tel: (81) 798 71 2904; Fax: (81) 798 71 2904 or (81) 798 71 4749; E-mail: [email protected]] Production: Information Section, Marine Resources Division, SPC, B.P. D5, 98848 Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia. [Fax: (687) 263818; E-mail: [email protected]]. Printed with financial assistance from the Government of France. Note from the coordinator The literature on traditional marine resource management and the local knowledge systems underpinning it is growing Inside rapidly for Solomon Islands. We are happy to add to that with a lead article by Simon Foale on West Nggela fish taxonomy. this issue Shankar Aswani, who recently completed his doctorate, is becoming a regular contributor. In this issue we include his What’s in a name? methodological contribution on the use of optimal foraging An analysis of the West Nggela theory. We hope that this might prove of value for fishery man- (Solomon Islands) fish taxonomy agers in the region. The third article is Julie LahnÕs update on the issues of indigenous rights and management strategies fac- by S. Foale p. 3 ing the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Allison Perry briefly describes the ÔGlobal survey of marine and estuarine The use of optimal foraging species used for traditional medicines and/or tonic foodsÕ. We theory to assess the fishing would be grateful if you would assist her by providing the strategies of Pacific island information requested in the short questionnaire. Please also artisanal fishers: copy and circulate it among other knowledgeable persons. A methodological review We draw you attention to the newly available software by S. Aswani p. 21 ICONS (International Conservation Networking System). ICONS for Windows software is produced by a team of con- Native title recognition of CMT servation and information professionals supported by the and the implications for the Information Management Group of IUCN Ð The World GBRMPA and future Conservation Union, the International Development Research management of marine areas Center (IDRC) and the Norwegian Agency for Development by J. Lahn p. 26 Cooperation (NORAD). Finally, we have just received information on a World Bank Global survey of marine and call for case studies for an international workshop on commu- nity-based natural resource management (see p. 34). The call is estuarine species used for for practical papers based on actual projects, rather than for traditional medicines and/or academic studies. tonic foods Please note my new e-mail address (above). It would be by A. Perry p. 30 appreciated if contributions and information could be received by e-mail. Useful information in electronic media p. 32 Kenneth Ruddle MARINE RESOURCES DIVISION – INFORMATION SECTION 2 SPC Traditional Marine Resource Management and Knowledge Information Bulletin #9 – February 1998 Map of the Solomon Islands showing West Nggela region Figure 1: Figure SPC Traditional Marine Resource Management and Knowledge Information Bulletin #9 – February 1998 3 What’s in a name? An analysis of the West Nggela (Solomon Islands) fish taxonomy. by Simon Foale 1 Introduction Lobotidae, Gerreidae, Sparidae, Ephippidae, Chaetodontidae, Pomacentridae, Cirhitidae, Accurate knowledge about the behaviour, biol- Polynemidae, Labridae, Opistognathidae, ogy and ecology of organisms comprising marine Trichonotidae, Pinguipedidae, Blenniidae, fisheries is a vital prerequisite for their manage- Gobiidae, Microdesmidae, Zanclidae, Bothidae, ment. Before beginning any study on local knowl- Pleuronectidae, and Soleidae. edge of marine fauna, a working knowledge of The English names of many species of fish vary their local names must be obtained. Moreover, a quite a bit, even within one country such as great deal of local knowledge can often emerge in Australia. For most of the species listed in the very process of obtaining names (Ruddle, Appendix 1, I have used the English names given 1994). A detailed treatment of the local naming by Randall et al. (1990). For species not included in system of West Nggela marine fauna is given in Randall et al. (1990), names from Kailola (1987a, b, this paper. 1991) were used. Methods Results Local names of fish were collected by asking Appendix 1 contains 350 unique Nggela folk people to provide the Nggela names for fishes taxa for cartilaginous and bony fishes, together from photographs in books featuring most of the with the scientific (Linnean) taxa they correspond common Indo-Pacific species (Randall et al., 1990 to and, where available, a brief note describing an and Myers, 1991). Most identifications were cross- aspect of local knowledge about the taxon. checked with at least five people before being Wherever possible, an etymology was provided for included in the list. This could still, however, the Nggela taxon (in many cases, the Nggela dictio- sometimes be an unreliable way of obtaining the nary compiled by Fox, 1955 was used). Similar data correct name (Bulmer, 1969; Diamond, 1989, 1991). are also presented for marine mammals, reptiles, Occasionally the photograph might have been commonly-used invertebrates, and some important of an individual whose colour variation did not plants. The list includes a small number of Nggela quite match that of the population that occurs at taxa that I was unable to identify. Nggela (even though it was still the same species), Some scientific species correspond to more or the colour balance of the photograph might than one folk taxon. In some cases these folk taxa have been a bit unnatural, or the fish was not easy could be regarded as sub-taxa, since they were to recognise for some other reason. Occasionally, usually acknowledged to simply be different people would create names for fishes, based on growth stages of the same Nggela ÔspeciesÕ. The their appearance in photographs, even if the fish most notable example of this is for the small did not occur in the Nggela region. With this in carangid, Selaroides leptolepis (Smooth-tailed treval- mind, I tried to obtain names of living, or freshly- ly), which is most usually referred to as Malaboro, caught specimens whenever possible. but which can also be referred to by four other For some groups of fish this was difficult, or names, depending on its size (see Appendix 1). In impossible. I depended heavily or entirely on pho- other cases, however, usually where species (such tographs for Nggela identifications of species in 22 as many scarids) show strong sexual dimorphism, of the 86 scientific families of cartilaginous and the Nggela taxa are not necessarily regarded as bony fishes listed in Appendix 1. They were: being related. In general, splitting of taxa was Pseudochromidae, Kuhlidae, Priacanthidae, more common for species that were commonly 1. Department of Zoology, The University of Melbourne, Australia. 4 SPC Traditional Marine Resource Management and Knowledge Information Bulletin #9 – February 1998 used, whereas fish that were of relatively little eco- the Nggela fish-naming system is predominantly nomic importance tended to be ÔlumpedÕ together. constructed around the linguistic representation Semantically speaking, the Nggela taxa can be of fish and their environment as they are divided into primary and secondary lexemes observed visually. Hence there must inevitably be (Berlin et al., 1973; Hooper, 1991). The former usu- some correspondence between the Nggela and ally comprise one word, such as Kara (ÔtrevallyÕ), Linnean systems, since the latter is usually based while the latter are typically binomials, such as on morphological criteria, which are often Kara mera (Blue-spot trevally, Caranx (though not always) betrayed by the animalÕs melampygus), comprising a primary, ÔgenericÕ term external appearance. and a descriptive qualifier (mera = blue). In a few Some taxa combine a term connoting cases this descriptive qualifier comprises two behaviour or appearance or habitat with another words, which in most cases can be treated as one term (e.g. Hangguvia ni horara {Rockmover lexeme (e.g. Bagea papala vohe {Scalloped ham- wrasse and various Razorfishes}: Hangguvia = to merhead shark}: Bagea = shark generic; papala = blow off, as a strong wind blows off a roofÑ handle; vohe = paddle; thus: Ôpaddle-handle refers to the mode of feeding of these fishes sharkÕ). However, several names do not fit well {behaviour}; ni horara = of the open sea {habi- with this model (e.g. Kuli tuguru ni tahi, Tauna tat}). A small number of taxa describe the smell na sori, Malole ngongora ruruguÑsee etymolo- or taste of the fish (e.g. Vurusinge {Black-banded gies in Appendix 1). While Nggela primary lex- seaperch}: Vuru = smells {like}; singe = emes sometimes roughly correspond to scientific Convolvulus {a plant}). The second-last category genera, and secondary lexemes to scientific in Table 1 includes names which describe some- species, this is certainly not the rule. Many prima- thing about the ecology of the fish (e.g. ry lexemes correspond directly to scientific Puhuduki {Archerfish}: puhu = to spout, gush; species (e.g. Kepo = Herklotsichthys quadrimacula- duki = a species of ant which the Archerfish tus). However, a larger number of West Nggela preys on by knocking it off mangrove roots with fish taxa correspond to more than one scientific jets of water), or its interaction with certain types species. Mostly these multiple correspondences of fishing gear. The etymologies of 13 taxa did are limited to similar looking fish within one sci- not appear to fit into any of these categories. entific family, but ten West Nggela taxa corre- Overall, most of the etymological categories list- spond to two or more species which belong to dif- ed in Table 1 portray fishes as they are experi- ferent scientific families. enced by fishers, so that local knowledge about Etymologies of Nggela folk taxa are cate- them, as reflected in their names, is constructed gorised in Table 1 according to the type of infor- principally in terms of human interaction with mation they reveal about the animal.