Livelihoods and Customary Marine Resource Management Under Customary Marine Tenure: Case Studies in the Solomon Islands A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Applied Science in International Rural Development at Lincoln University by Rose Tungale Lincoln University 2008 Abstract of a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Applied Science in International Rural Development Livelihoods and Customary Marine Resource Management Under Customary Marine Tenure: Case Studies in the Solomon Islands by Rose Tungale In many ways, coastal marine resources have provided an important source of protein, income and even employment for coastal rural Solomon Islands communities. Fishing, for instance, has always played a very important role in these communities’ culture and tradition. Subsistence fishing is traditional in most rural coastal communities. Small-scale fishing is also wide-spread. Traditionally marine areas and resources were managed by the custodians of the adjacent land and the traditional leaders in some local communities. While small-scale fisheries are managed by the Government, much of the enforcement responsibility is in the hands of the community leaders, given the realities of what that Government can provide. This research has explored the interaction between rural coastal livelihoods and marine resource management under Customary Marine Tenure (CMT) in one area of Temotu Province, Solomon Islands. Specifically the research seeks to explore, explain and describe how the livelihoods of the rural coastal villagers influence the use, access and management of marine resources and vice versa. Particular attention has been given to: first exploring the traditional marine resource management under CMT and livelihoods in the three villages; second, how the changes in the villagers’ livelihoods system affects the customary marine resource management in the three case study villages; third, how changes in customary marine resource management influences the livelihoods of the villagers and finally the nature of the relationship between livelihoods and customary marine resource management is described for the first time for this part of the Solomon Islands. The research results showed that villagers’ livelihoods have changed over the past decade and much of these changes have affected the customary marine resource management in the three case study villages. Consequently, customary marine resource management under CMT is no longer effective. The changes in customary marine resource also have implications on the villagers’ livelihoods. For this reason the study argues that when trying to understand the factors affecting customary marine resource, the entire livelihoods system of the people should be considered. The study states that the nature of the interactions between livelihoods and customary marine resource management is a two- way relationship, dynamic and very complex. Should there be further marine resource development, the study suggests that understanding the livelihoods of the people concerned is important for better management. ii Key words: Livelihoods, marine resources, customary marine resource management, customary marine tenure, fishing, Temotu Province, Solomon Islands. iii Table of Contents Page Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………………...ii Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................. iv List of Tables ...................................................................................................................................... viii List of Figures..................................................................................................................................... viii List of Appendices................................................................................................................................ ix List of Acronyms .................................................................................................................................. ix Chapter 1: Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 An overview of the study............................................................................................ 1 1.2 Research aim and questions ........................................................................................ 1 1.3 Problems, issues and justification for the study.......................................................... 2 1.4 Researcher’s interests.................................................................................................. 3 1.5 Structure of thesis ....................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2: The Study Setting: Physical and Human........................................................................ 6 2.1 Introduction................................................................................................................. 6 2.2 The Physical Setting ................................................................................................... 6 2.2.1 Location, topography and climate .................................................................... 6 2.2.1 The case study village settings ......................................................................... 8 2.3 The human setting..................................................................................................... 12 2.3.1 Socio-demographic characteristics ................................................................. 12 2.3.2 The social setting ............................................................................................ 13 2.3.3 Political organization...................................................................................... 15 2.3.4 Economic Setting............................................................................................ 16 2.4 Chapter summary...................................................................................................... 17 Chapter 3: Background on the Status of Coastal Marine Resources, Utilization and Management in the Solomon Islands ............................................................................ 19 3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................... 19 3.2 A description of nearshore marine resources in the Solomon Islands ...................... 19 3.2.1 National level.................................................................................................. 19 3.2.2 Provincial level: Temotu Province ................................................................. 21 3.3 Factors affecting coastal marine resources ............................................................... 21 3.3.1 Socio-economic factors .................................................................................. 21 3.3.2 Environmental factors..................................................................................... 23 3.4 Subsistence and small-scale (artisanal) fisheries ...................................................... 24 3.4.1 Subsistence fisheries....................................................................................... 24 3.4.2 Small-scale or artisanal fisheries .................................................................... 25 3.4.3 Other coastal resources................................................................................... 26 iv 3.5 Linkages between different actors in marine resource management ........................ 26 3.5.1 The actors in marine resource management: Linkages................................... 27 3.5.2 The actors’ sphere of management influence ................................................. 29 3.6 Policy perspectives on small-scale and subsistence fisheries management in the Solomon Islands........................................................................................................ 29 3.6.1 Institutional marine resource management issues .......................................... 31 3.7 Future marine resource management prospects ........................................................ 32 3.8 Chapter summary...................................................................................................... 33 Chapter 4: Theoretical Context ........................................................................................................ 34 4.1 Introduction............................................................................................................... 34 4.2 Customary marine tenure.......................................................................................... 34 4.2.1 Definitions ...................................................................................................... 34 4.2.2 Concepts of customary marine tenure ............................................................ 35 4.2.3 Models of customary marine tenure ............................................................... 39 4.3 Traditional marine resource management practices under CMT............................. 39 4.3.1 Fishing closures or taboos .............................................................................. 40 4.4 Traditional beliefs, knowledge and marine resource management........................... 40 4.5 Factors influencing