By Joshua Pi, Kelton W. McMahon, John Rulmal Jr., Chamonix B. Toledo, Milo Tasopulu, Melva Treviño, Dana T. Cook, Michelle J. Paddack, and Nicole L. Crane
This Plain Language Summary is published in advance of the paper discussed. Please check back soon for a link to the full paper.
In Ulithi Atoll, Federated States of Micronesia, people depend on coral reefs for fish and fishing. Spearfishing is a popular fishing method that is particularly effective in feeding communities. But does food alone explain why spearfishing is so popular?
In this study, we asked Ulithian community members from Ulithi Atoll and Kona, Hawaiʻi what they thought about spearfishing. We then compiled their responses and looked for common themes to explain how and why Ulithians spearfish, and how spearfishing might change in the future. From our analysis, we found that most Ulithians preferred spearfishing to other methods because it’s more convenient and selective. However, men also viewed it as a fun activity that brings fishers together and as a source of pride. At the same time, we found spearfishing to be deeply connected to several Ulithian customs and practices. For boys, spearfishing is a rite of passage. It is also important for sharing fish with family and friends living on other islands and in diaspora. Finally, we identified two recent changes with respect to spearfishing. First, recreation is becoming an increasingly important reason boys are spearfishing. Second, spearfishing is becoming increasingly integrated into the culture, as most youth participants are unaware that spearfishing is non-traditional to Ulithi. Overall, participants believed spearfishing will increase in the future.
These findings tell us that spearfishing is important beyond that of food and that the practice has reshaped how Ulithians interact with their reefs and with each other. It will likely continue changing into the future, which will have an impact on how Ulithians source their food. Therefore, understanding what fishing communities, like Ulithi, think about spearfishing will be important for designing effective and culturally sound fishing governance.
