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Trends and challenges for sustainable marine resource management for rural Solomon Islanders A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Waikato by Gregory Pakovari Bennett 2014 ii ABSTRACT Much has been claimed about the positive benefits of the customary marine tenure (CMT) system in the South Pacific and its implications for resource management. In Solomon Islands the premise of effective community-based resource management (CBRM) as a contemporary management tool, rests to a great degree on CMT, but does CMT still provide a sufficiently strong foundation to support this premise? This research examines the social and environmental characteristics of two rural Solomon Islands coastal communities that have a long history in customary marine tenure; one with a strong chiefly system and the other one with a weaker chiefly system. The research gains insight into and an understanding of the experiences and lives of the villagers, given current debates on the need to address and move forward with the concept of CBRM with regards to the sustainability issues that they are currently confronting. Using primarily qualitative methodologies the study focused on how marine resources are perceived and valued by different members of the community. The findings suggest that in communities where a common agreement on CMT no longer exists there is a significant challenge to stakeholders in attaining the goal of sustainably managed coastal marine resources through community based approaches. This challenge needs to be accounted for on a case by case basis as part of CBRM facilitation processes. While this research may true for much of Solomon Islands, the case studies have revealed that although the villages are made up of families who are closely related they are not unified as a whole. Study findings suggest that the people retain a lingering vision of a small, integrated community but have failed to grasp how their differences as a community have affected their resource management outcomes. The present day communities are affected by many outside factors that did not exist when traditional management systems were evolving. These factors bring management challenges for which traditional arrangements were not designed to cope and thus many have severely destabilising effects on the performance of traditional systems. iii iv DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to the people who have influenced my life and provided me with the most wonderful childhood and raised me with a great sense of self- belief; My late grandfather and late grandmother Alec Tozaka and Dalcy Tozaka my father Dick Bennett and my mother Wryne Tozaka Bennett v vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My scholarship to undertake PhD studies at Waikato University was funded by the NZAID with support from the WorldFish Center. Field work logistics in the Western Province was also supplemented by the WorldFish Center. If it weren‗t for Dr Anne Maree Schwarz‘s inspiration and belief in my abilities I would not have begun this PhD, thank you for helping me appreciate the sacred in life. Academically, undertaking a doctorate degree is a truly magnificent experience. This piece of labour is one of the greatest achievements in my educational life. As with any lengthy ‗individual‘ research project and personal undertaking, there are many people that I wish to thank who have pushed me, supported me, been there for me when I cried, and celebrated with me in my achievements. First, I thank my supervisory team, Associate Professor John Campbell, Dr Colin Mcleay and Dr Anne-Maree Schwarz. These three people kept their faith in me when at times I pushed their limits. They never faltered in their belief that I ―had it in me‖. I would like to acknowledge my chief supervisor Associate Professor John Campbell for his guidance, his insight, his patience and his high regard for the work that I produced. I would not have completed this thesis without his input. Second, this work would not be possible without the help and support of some people that I would like to mention; Heather Morrell, Brenda Hall, Max Oulton, Matt Sinton, Caitriona Gyde, Paul Beere, Alicia Ferrer-Costa, Ilham Junaid, Cherie Todd, Dr Franco Rodie, Dr Neil Andrew, Dr Chris Ramofafia, Cletus Pita and Cherie Morris. I also like to appreciate the assistance and kind words of encouragement from the staff of WorldFish Center in the Solomon Islands and the Solomon Islands Community of Waikato, New Zealand. Third, I would like to thank the people in the two villages in Western Province: Toumoa and Liangai. These communities sincerely welcomed me into their communities, shared what little they have with me, allowed me to participate in their daily activities and answered my questions – Tangio tumas long yu fala everiwan. Fourth, I thank my wonderful parents, my two brothers and two sisters and finally to my partner, Adi and her family. The journey I have taken has been littered with vii stumbling blocks, hurdles and great walls that I have had to climb over to reach my goal. Lastly, this entire body of work is the result of the endurance and generosity of fishers and scientists who have shared their time and knowledge with me and other researchers. viii CONTENTS ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................... iii DEDICATION ...................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................... vii CONTENTS ........................................................................................................ ix LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................ xvi LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................ xviii ACRONYMS ...................................................................................................... xx GLOSSARY (Non-English words used in this thesis) ........................................ xxii FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES ....................................................................... xxiv CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .......................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................ 1 1.2 Purpose and research questions ........................................................... 2 1.3 Researcher‘s interest ............................................................................. 4 1.4 Thesis summary .................................................................................... 6 1.5 Outline of the thesis ............................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................... 11 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................... 11 2.2 Debates surrounding sustainable development ................................... 11 2.2.1 Global fisheries ............................................................................. 13 2.2.2 Challenges in marine conservation ............................................... 15 2.2.3 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and their big Issues ......... 17 2.3 Coastal marine development issues for SIDS ...................................... 21 2.3.1 Seafood consumption and population growth ............................... 21 2.3.2 Development plans and resource use ........................................... 23 2.3.3 Markets and open access resources ............................................ 24 2.3.4 Cost of transport and communications .......................................... 26 2.4 Development challenges of the small island states of the South Pacific... ............................................................................................................ 27 2.5 Ever-changing paradigms in resource management ............................ 30 2.6 Traditional marine resource management in the South Pacific ............ 32 2.6.1 Customary marine tenure system ................................................. 33 2.6.2 Traditional ecological knowledge .................................................. 34 2.6.3 A revival of traditional marine management .................................. 35 2.7 Traditional authority practices in the South Pacific/ Melanesia ............. 36 2.7.1 Closer look at CBRM and the communities ................................... 38 ix 2.7.2 The impacts of modernity on CMT ................................................ 39 2.7.3 Community cohesion