Co-Operative Crayfish Industry : (Kairuka, Territory of Papua New
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swing into this particular stretch of Co-operative Crayfish coast, and taking the crayfish with it. Catching Industry Indications are that the crayfish is not normally carnivorous, but while on the deep reefs they have been caught in (Kairuku, Territory of Papua and New Guinea) bottom set nets, in clusters around netted fish or shark, and obviously feeding. To By I. W. Wiseman* date, extensive cray-pot trials have not been possible; small-scale testing has been Word-of-mouth chronicle records that there has always been mostly unsuccessful, a catch of three or four crays in the one pot being the ex a quite erratic influx of the green "painted crayfish," common ception, and the big majority completely to -many tropical waters, into the Kairuku area during the empty. (Although, once, crew members north-west monsoon season. This unusual occurrence has of a Fisheries Division survey boat on a prawn trawl in the area, were most sur caused much interest and spasmodic investigation, and has been prised to bring up a large number of the source of lucrative trade and sumptuous feasting for the crayfish in the net.) coastal village people near Yule Island, which lies about 70 During the day the more enterprising miles west of Port Moresby on the south-east swing of the villagers take their canoes out and dive Gulf of Vapua. To the west of Yule Island there is a long for crayfish into about 18 feet of water, pulling them from coral holes and ledges. stretch of coastline with numerous high output rivers causing At night, when the crayfish move on heavy and continuous silting, with the result that there is very the high tide to the very shallow reef, the little coral reef growing inshore. villagers are able to catch them by hand. They use pressure lamps, torches, and From Yule Island eastwards the rivers are much smaller and coconut-frond flares as they wade over the reefs collecting the crayfish, which silt-up far less, so that the stretch for about 25 miles to they load alive into dugout canoes. Those the next large silt area, at Galley Reach, is amply endowed with that escape retreat back into deeper water new inshore coral reefs, attractive to crayfish. with the outgoing tide. N MOST north-west monsoon seasons, it would seem that the crayfish move Before Co-operative Marketing between December and March and I on to the offshore reefs in deep water any The people of Port Moresby keenly until about early May, anything from time after the change of the south-east small to vast numbers of the "painted anticipate the influx of crayfish from the wind from August to October, and re Yule Island area each January. For crayfish" move on to the very shallow main there for a time. The numbers coral reefs. No-one has yet been able to many years, the Kairuku people have which move on to the deep water reefs packed live crayfish in woven coconut- ascertain where they come from or why are perhaps related to the numbers which they come, why in some years they appear palm frond baskets or in the continually appear later on the shallow inshore reefs. dampened hulls of their canoes for trans in hundreds of thousands and in others The movement of the crays on to the in only in hundreds. Why do they move on port to Port Moresby, for sale or barter. shore reefs is apparently controlled by a In recent years the price has varied from to this particular stretch of coastline and violent north-west blow in conjunction nowhere else in comparable numbers? about A.3s. 0d.-6s. Od. each for crayfish with the highest tides of the month. This between 2 and 4 lb. weight. The market suggests that the movement might be From the scanty information available, was sometimes glutted; the fishermen related to the set of a current of different- then had either to give away some of temperature water—possibly carrying their catch or dump it. * Assistant Registrar of Co-operative Societies crayfish food—being influenced by the (Papua Region). big wind and tides and causing it to In 1960, following investigations by the Administration's Fisheries Division and attempts to help with the marketing of crayfish, the Registry of Co-operative Societies was asked to assist in the organization of a crayfish marketing co operative. Meetings were organized by the Co operatives Officer stationed at Kairuku, to advise and assist the 19 co-operative societies already operating in the cray fishing and other adjacent areas. After a series of discussion meetings held in eight villages it was decided to form a co-operative fishing society, to raise share capital from all interested persons in the area, to buy a crayfish cooker and a freezer, and to market both cooked crayfish and any other available fish. The Fisheries Division had already established that there were economic quantities of mullet and other Left—The factory at low tide. Right—The new factory is completely vermin proof marketable fish in the region. Page 26 SOUTH PACIFIC BULLETIN, FIRST QUARTER, 1966 The Kairuku Fishing Society Ltd. This Society was duly formed and registered as a corporate body under the Native Economic Development Ordinance of the Territory, but difficulties soon be came apparent. Other than the potential from the sea, the area is economically poor, with in different soils and a very pronounced south-east dry season. The people live on a high standard subsistence agriculture supplemented by fish and crayfish, but their cash income is restricted to the pro ceeds of sales of very small quantities of copra, some garden produce sold in Port Left—Freshly cooked crayfish are being drained at the old freezer. Right—Crayfish being delivered Moresby, and the seasonal trade in cray to the Fisheries Research Vessel "Tagula," during a special production-potential test in the 1963-4 fish. season. The staff of the Registry of Co members worked, they only worked spas able to store and market large quantities, operative Societies realized that capitaliza modically and in small numbers. The nor was there ready contact with large tion would be a problem, but promises freezer continually gave trouble, causing numbers of fishermen. made by prospective members in the high maintenance expenses. pre-formation meetings indicated that It was obvious very early in the season sufficient capital would be forthcoming The members did not want to cut their that the facilities of the Society and all from accumulated savings to finance the losses and wind up the Society; they previous concepts of its potential in a requirements of the Society. wanted to hang on for another year. At good season were far from adequate. In When capital subscriptions were called, the expense of a great deal of energy, order to plan for the future, it was the response was far from adequate and and because the Kairuku Co-operative essential that the potential be definitely the Registry staff was faced with a major Association agreed to continue to give its established, because with the Society problem of whether to proceed with, or financial support, the Society was kept forced to stop buying when its freezer to abandon the project. alive. was full, members were controlling both their catch and their input to the Society, By July, 1961, only sufficient capital In the next year, in spite of their ex with the result that no real indication had been subscribed to buy a crayfish pressed intention to make general fishing of possible quantities was available. cooker, to make a deposit on a small an economic proposition, the members freezer, and to provide some working barely produced enough fish to pay for A near-maximum catch test was finally funds. the fuel for the freezer engine. The possible when the Fisheries Division made crayfish run of 1962-63 produced only The Co-operatives Officer at Kairuku the large freezer available in their sur around 10,000 crayfish, and operations vey vessel the FRV Tagula. held meetings in the widely scattered were bad due to freezer breakdowns, villages interested in the Society and re poor transportation, and indifferent Close contact of the Co-operatives ceived their assurances that they would management. These setbacks and the Officer with the members was utilized subscribe capital when they received very low market selling price further in to organize the test, which proved a money from the sale of crayfish in the creased the Society's losses. major success. In a 12-hour period from next season. 9 p.m. to 9 a.m., the Society purchased 1,200 crayfish. The next crayfish season was to occur The Third Year in a few months' time and it was im Subsequent checks by the Co perative that a decision be made so The 1963-64 crayfish season, however, operatives Officer and the Fisheries Offi that the Society could be ready to operate. was a successful one. cer in the villages and along the reefs With the assurances of the members to Because of the lack of capital support proved that this was not a "freak" night. support their Society and to contribute in the previous seasons, the Board of Crayfish were present in abundance from capital when they were paid, plus the Directors decided not to take any risks, mid-January until early April, when financial assistance of the Kairuku and ruled that a percentage levy from the quantities fell off, and by early May Association of Native Societies Ltd., it purchase price of crayfish be paid to capi they were not worth handling.