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Using local ecological knowledge to identify shark river habitats in Fiji (South Pacific)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 May 2010

ERONI RASALATO ,
VICTOR MAGINNITY  and
JUERG M. BRUNNSCHWEILER
ERONI RASALATO
Affiliation:
University of the South Pacific, Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment, Marine Campus, Suva, Fiji
VICTOR MAGINNITY
Affiliation:
Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Marine Studies Department, Tauranga, New Zealand
JUERG M. BRUNNSCHWEILER*
Affiliation:
ETH Zurich, Raemistrasse 101, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
*
*Correspondence: Dr Juerg Brunnschweiler e-mail: juerg@gluecklich.net
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Summary

Local ecological knowledge (LEK) and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) have the potential to improve community-based coastal resource management (CBCRM) by providing information about the presence, behaviour and ecology of species. This paper explores the potential of LEK and TEK to identify shark river habitats in Fiji, learn how locals regard and use sharks, and capture ancestral legends and myths that shed light on relationships between these animals and local people. Interviews with representatives from 22 villages, communities and fishing settlements associated with seven riverine areas on Viti Levu and Vanua Levu confirmed the presence of sharks in estuaries and rivers on Fiji. Hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna spp.) and larger sharks were reported being close to the river mouths, whereas an unknown species of small size with a rounded snout was reported up to >30 km upriver. Local people consume shark meat as a source of protein, but sharks also have a rich background in ancestral stories and play an important part in Fijian myths and legends, resulting in the support of conservation measures by local villagers.

Keywords

ancestral mythsbull sharkCarcharhinus leucascommunity-based coastal resource managementlocal ecological knowledgenursery groundshark godShark Reef Marine Reservetraditional ecological knowledge
Type
THEMATIC SECTION: Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM): designing the next generation (Part 1)
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 37 , Issue 1: Thematic section. Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM): designing the next generation (Part 1) , March 2010 , pp. 90 - 97
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 2010

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