I am interested in all development activities that result in the improvement of the lives of people particularly those in rural areas in small island developing states. For me, sustainable development is the only option humanity has and it is the responsibility of current generations to help make the cases for it. Address: Suva, FIJI
Parachute science is the practice whereby international scientists, typically from higher-income ... more Parachute science is the practice whereby international scientists, typically from higher-income countries, conduct field studies in another country, typically of lower income, and then complete the research in their home country without any further effective communication and engagement with others from that nation. It creates dependency on external expertise, does not address local research needs, and hinders local research efforts. As global hotspots of marine biodiversity, lower-income nations in the tropics have for too long been the subject of inequitable and unfair research practices1. However, to date there has been little quantifiable evidence of this phenomenon in marine science. Here, we provide evidence through systematic literature searches and queries that parachute science practices are still widespread in marine research and make some recommendations to help change the current status quo. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
ABSTRACT There are various ways in which local communities are, and can become more, involved in ... more ABSTRACT There are various ways in which local communities are, and can become more, involved in reef management. Attempts have been made to comprehensively highlight successes and failures, but with little rigorous assessment of what the conditions of long-term success are. Fiji represents a unique case because its customary fishing-rights areas (qoliqoli) constitute a form of dual ownership, establishing a connection between indigenous owners and central government for management purposes. However, this so-called cooperative co-management approach has not been uniform across Fiji; different levels of government-and community-involvement are present, and the approach has been a source of confusion and disputes. One issue is whether 'ownership' of the qoliqoli should include both the marine resources and the seafloor, the latter being currently owned by the state. This review takes a critical look at issues of 'traditional conservation', origins of the existing qoliqoli system, perceptions of it by the people primarily concerned, the forces driving its evolution and its impact on marine resource use. It sheds light on and explores the boundaries of 'co-management' in Fiji, and assesses previous efforts to find a way forward. It shows that without organising its forces, Fiji will not be able to maintain its natural marine resources.
When tropical cyclone Winston hit Fiji on 20 February 2016, it became the strongest storm recorde... more When tropical cyclone Winston hit Fiji on 20 February 2016, it became the strongest storm recorded in the southern hemisphere and the second strongest storm ever recorded in the world. Forty-four people died as a result of the superstorm, and the ongoing governmental recovery plans have estimated nearly three billion Fijian dollars (£1.1 billion) in damages. Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainima-rama, in a national address following Winston, stated 'almost no part of our nation has been left unscarred'. This paper explores the adaptation measures for extreme weather and climate change in Fiji following Winston, as well as the author's experiences both as a survivor of Winston and as a volunteer aid-relief worker living in Suva, the Fijian capital, at the time of the superstorm. Notably , Winston struck 5 days after Fiji became the first nation to ratify the United Nations Climate deal agreed to by 195 nations in Paris in December 2015. Many Pacific island nations have play...
Understanding how social-ecological systems are and can be resilient to climate change is one of ... more Understanding how social-ecological systems are and can be resilient to climate change is one of the world's most crucial problems today. It requires knowledge at local and global scales, the integration of natural and social sciences, and a focus on biocultural diversity. Small Pacific Islands and the knowledge-practice-belief systems of their peoples have a long history of resilience to environmental variability and unpredictability, including in areas with marginal habitats and with periodic, severe disturbance (e.g., drought, flood, storms, and tsunami). We review the state of research on these knowledge systems as it pertains to resilience and adaptation, and we highlight critical research needs to address the interrelated areas of: (1) local-scale expertise and observations of change with regard to weather, life-history cycles, and ecological processes; (2) customary resource management institutions and practices (i.e., with agroforests and the nearshore marine environment...
Culture and Sustainable Development in the Pacific, 2000
9 Fisheries resource-use culture in Fiji and its implications Joeli Veitayaki Like other Pacific ... more 9 Fisheries resource-use culture in Fiji and its implications Joeli Veitayaki Like other Pacific Islanders, most Fijians are maritime people, with ongoing fishing traditions that are continually retold to the younger generations. Skilled fishers and seafarers are highly regarded. In ...
Culture and Sustainable Development in the Pacific, 2000
9 Fisheries resource-use culture in Fiji and its implications Joeli Veitayaki Like other Pacific ... more 9 Fisheries resource-use culture in Fiji and its implications Joeli Veitayaki Like other Pacific Islanders, most Fijians are maritime people, with ongoing fishing traditions that are continually retold to the younger generations. Skilled fishers and seafarers are highly regarded. In ...
The time-tested Indigenous fishing knowledge (IFK) of Fiji and the Pacific Islands is seriously t... more The time-tested Indigenous fishing knowledge (IFK) of Fiji and the Pacific Islands is seriously threatened due to the commercialization of fishing, breakdown of traditional communal leadership and oral knowledge transmission systems, modern education, and the movement of the younger generations to urban areas for work and/or study. Consequently, IFK, which has been orally transmitted for generations, has either been lost, not learned by the current generation, or remains undocumented. This study focuses on the critical need to conserve and include IFK as a basis for assessing the conservation status of ecologically and culturally keystone fisheries species as a basis for planning site-specific management of marine and freshwater fisheries in Fiji and the Pacific Islands. The study reviews studies of the last two and a half centuries on IFK from Fiji and elsewhere in the small oceanic islands of the Pacific, as a basis for the conservation, documentation and intergenerational transfer of this knowledge as the foundation for sustainable fisheries management. The study also reviews: the nature and conservation status of IFK, itself; and the conservation status of species considered to be of particular ecological and cultural importance; reasons for the loss of species/taxa and associated knowledge and practices; and actions that can be taken to address this loss.
Mangroves are critical resources in small island developing countries in the Pacific where they p... more Mangroves are critical resources in small island developing countries in the Pacific where they provide food, a range of products and ecological services that are used by coastal communities. In many of the countries that have mangroves, between 50–80 % of commercial and subsistence fish species used by people spend some part of their life cycle in the mangroves where the detritus and the existing life forms contribute to the productivity of the coastal water that is vital for the habitation of these islands. Mangroves also protect the shorelines and are harvested for timber and non-timber products such as charcoal, dye and medicine. Ironically, this important resource is increasingly cleared in large amounts to allow for infrastructure development, agriculture, fish farming, hotel sites, industrial areas and dumps. Most small island countries in the Pacific Islands do not have any effective management plans for their mangrove forests, which are now under serious threat because of their increasing alteration to accommodate other uses. In addition, the changes in climate and sea levels and their impacts and how these are being addressed and attended to at different levels in the Pacific Islands will be discussed to show the attempts at all levels to accommodate the changing conditions. Many of these countries still cannot determine the factors that influence the sustainability of their mangroves which normally come under the responsibility of ministries or departments of forestry, fisheries, natural resources, environment and lands. It is common to have jurisdictional overlaps and conflicting sectoral policies. This overview will present the current state of mangroves and some of the issues that characterise their use in the Pacific Islands, the threats they face and the management arrangements that are in place. The chapter will also illustrate the roles of the customary and traditional owners of the resource and governments at the local, national and regional levels and the challenges that mangrove management must overcome in order to ensure the integrity and health of this habitat that is fundamental to human wellbeing.
ABSTRACT This paper summarises research and options for sustainable sea transport in Oceania with... more ABSTRACT This paper summarises research and options for sustainable sea transport in Oceania with a focus on domestic shipping. This debate is situated initially within the context of the current Pacific domestic shipping scenario, a region of minute economies connected by some of the longest sea transport routes in the world. All current options are fossil fuel powered and increasingly uneconomic and unsustainable. Many routes are marginal or unviable and a vicious cycle of old ships replaced with old ships prevails. Although a central and essential issue of many Pacific communities, the option of pursuing sustainable sea transport is currently invisible within the policy space at all levels. Various renewable energy options are possible and increasingly available. Recent research finds that these have strong potential for providing benefits across multiple wellbeings. The barriers to pursing this agenda are complex and poorly understood but are perceptual and institutional more than technological. A small number of critical experiments during the last oil crisis provide critical lessons and direction.
Parachute science is the practice whereby international scientists, typically from higher-income ... more Parachute science is the practice whereby international scientists, typically from higher-income countries, conduct field studies in another country, typically of lower income, and then complete the research in their home country without any further effective communication and engagement with others from that nation. It creates dependency on external expertise, does not address local research needs, and hinders local research efforts. As global hotspots of marine biodiversity, lower-income nations in the tropics have for too long been the subject of inequitable and unfair research practices1. However, to date there has been little quantifiable evidence of this phenomenon in marine science. Here, we provide evidence through systematic literature searches and queries that parachute science practices are still widespread in marine research and make some recommendations to help change the current status quo. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
ABSTRACT There are various ways in which local communities are, and can become more, involved in ... more ABSTRACT There are various ways in which local communities are, and can become more, involved in reef management. Attempts have been made to comprehensively highlight successes and failures, but with little rigorous assessment of what the conditions of long-term success are. Fiji represents a unique case because its customary fishing-rights areas (qoliqoli) constitute a form of dual ownership, establishing a connection between indigenous owners and central government for management purposes. However, this so-called cooperative co-management approach has not been uniform across Fiji; different levels of government-and community-involvement are present, and the approach has been a source of confusion and disputes. One issue is whether 'ownership' of the qoliqoli should include both the marine resources and the seafloor, the latter being currently owned by the state. This review takes a critical look at issues of 'traditional conservation', origins of the existing qoliqoli system, perceptions of it by the people primarily concerned, the forces driving its evolution and its impact on marine resource use. It sheds light on and explores the boundaries of 'co-management' in Fiji, and assesses previous efforts to find a way forward. It shows that without organising its forces, Fiji will not be able to maintain its natural marine resources.
When tropical cyclone Winston hit Fiji on 20 February 2016, it became the strongest storm recorde... more When tropical cyclone Winston hit Fiji on 20 February 2016, it became the strongest storm recorded in the southern hemisphere and the second strongest storm ever recorded in the world. Forty-four people died as a result of the superstorm, and the ongoing governmental recovery plans have estimated nearly three billion Fijian dollars (£1.1 billion) in damages. Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainima-rama, in a national address following Winston, stated 'almost no part of our nation has been left unscarred'. This paper explores the adaptation measures for extreme weather and climate change in Fiji following Winston, as well as the author's experiences both as a survivor of Winston and as a volunteer aid-relief worker living in Suva, the Fijian capital, at the time of the superstorm. Notably , Winston struck 5 days after Fiji became the first nation to ratify the United Nations Climate deal agreed to by 195 nations in Paris in December 2015. Many Pacific island nations have play...
Understanding how social-ecological systems are and can be resilient to climate change is one of ... more Understanding how social-ecological systems are and can be resilient to climate change is one of the world's most crucial problems today. It requires knowledge at local and global scales, the integration of natural and social sciences, and a focus on biocultural diversity. Small Pacific Islands and the knowledge-practice-belief systems of their peoples have a long history of resilience to environmental variability and unpredictability, including in areas with marginal habitats and with periodic, severe disturbance (e.g., drought, flood, storms, and tsunami). We review the state of research on these knowledge systems as it pertains to resilience and adaptation, and we highlight critical research needs to address the interrelated areas of: (1) local-scale expertise and observations of change with regard to weather, life-history cycles, and ecological processes; (2) customary resource management institutions and practices (i.e., with agroforests and the nearshore marine environment...
Culture and Sustainable Development in the Pacific, 2000
9 Fisheries resource-use culture in Fiji and its implications Joeli Veitayaki Like other Pacific ... more 9 Fisheries resource-use culture in Fiji and its implications Joeli Veitayaki Like other Pacific Islanders, most Fijians are maritime people, with ongoing fishing traditions that are continually retold to the younger generations. Skilled fishers and seafarers are highly regarded. In ...
Culture and Sustainable Development in the Pacific, 2000
9 Fisheries resource-use culture in Fiji and its implications Joeli Veitayaki Like other Pacific ... more 9 Fisheries resource-use culture in Fiji and its implications Joeli Veitayaki Like other Pacific Islanders, most Fijians are maritime people, with ongoing fishing traditions that are continually retold to the younger generations. Skilled fishers and seafarers are highly regarded. In ...
The time-tested Indigenous fishing knowledge (IFK) of Fiji and the Pacific Islands is seriously t... more The time-tested Indigenous fishing knowledge (IFK) of Fiji and the Pacific Islands is seriously threatened due to the commercialization of fishing, breakdown of traditional communal leadership and oral knowledge transmission systems, modern education, and the movement of the younger generations to urban areas for work and/or study. Consequently, IFK, which has been orally transmitted for generations, has either been lost, not learned by the current generation, or remains undocumented. This study focuses on the critical need to conserve and include IFK as a basis for assessing the conservation status of ecologically and culturally keystone fisheries species as a basis for planning site-specific management of marine and freshwater fisheries in Fiji and the Pacific Islands. The study reviews studies of the last two and a half centuries on IFK from Fiji and elsewhere in the small oceanic islands of the Pacific, as a basis for the conservation, documentation and intergenerational transfer of this knowledge as the foundation for sustainable fisheries management. The study also reviews: the nature and conservation status of IFK, itself; and the conservation status of species considered to be of particular ecological and cultural importance; reasons for the loss of species/taxa and associated knowledge and practices; and actions that can be taken to address this loss.
Mangroves are critical resources in small island developing countries in the Pacific where they p... more Mangroves are critical resources in small island developing countries in the Pacific where they provide food, a range of products and ecological services that are used by coastal communities. In many of the countries that have mangroves, between 50–80 % of commercial and subsistence fish species used by people spend some part of their life cycle in the mangroves where the detritus and the existing life forms contribute to the productivity of the coastal water that is vital for the habitation of these islands. Mangroves also protect the shorelines and are harvested for timber and non-timber products such as charcoal, dye and medicine. Ironically, this important resource is increasingly cleared in large amounts to allow for infrastructure development, agriculture, fish farming, hotel sites, industrial areas and dumps. Most small island countries in the Pacific Islands do not have any effective management plans for their mangrove forests, which are now under serious threat because of their increasing alteration to accommodate other uses. In addition, the changes in climate and sea levels and their impacts and how these are being addressed and attended to at different levels in the Pacific Islands will be discussed to show the attempts at all levels to accommodate the changing conditions. Many of these countries still cannot determine the factors that influence the sustainability of their mangroves which normally come under the responsibility of ministries or departments of forestry, fisheries, natural resources, environment and lands. It is common to have jurisdictional overlaps and conflicting sectoral policies. This overview will present the current state of mangroves and some of the issues that characterise their use in the Pacific Islands, the threats they face and the management arrangements that are in place. The chapter will also illustrate the roles of the customary and traditional owners of the resource and governments at the local, national and regional levels and the challenges that mangrove management must overcome in order to ensure the integrity and health of this habitat that is fundamental to human wellbeing.
ABSTRACT This paper summarises research and options for sustainable sea transport in Oceania with... more ABSTRACT This paper summarises research and options for sustainable sea transport in Oceania with a focus on domestic shipping. This debate is situated initially within the context of the current Pacific domestic shipping scenario, a region of minute economies connected by some of the longest sea transport routes in the world. All current options are fossil fuel powered and increasingly uneconomic and unsustainable. Many routes are marginal or unviable and a vicious cycle of old ships replaced with old ships prevails. Although a central and essential issue of many Pacific communities, the option of pursuing sustainable sea transport is currently invisible within the policy space at all levels. Various renewable energy options are possible and increasingly available. Recent research finds that these have strong potential for providing benefits across multiple wellbeings. The barriers to pursing this agenda are complex and poorly understood but are perceptual and institutional more than technological. A small number of critical experiments during the last oil crisis provide critical lessons and direction.
Mangroves are critical resources in small island developing countries in the Pacific where they p... more Mangroves are critical resources in small island developing countries in the Pacific where they provide food, a range of products and ecological services that are used by coastal communities. In many of the countries that have mangroves, between 50–80 % of commercial and subsistence fish species used by people spend some part of their life cycle in the mangroves where the detritus and the existing life forms contribute to the productivity of the coastal water that is vital for the habitation of these islands. Mangroves also protect the shorelines and are harvested for timber and non-timber products such as charcoal, dye and medicine. Ironically, this important resource is increasingly cleared in large amounts to allow for infrastructure development, agriculture, fish farming, hotel sites, industrial areas and dumps. Most small island countries in the Pacific Islands do not have any effective management plans for their mangrove forests, which are now under serious threat because of their increasing alteration to accommodate other uses. In addition, the changes in climate and sea levels and their impacts and how these are being addressed and attended to at different levels in the Pacific Islands will be discussed to show the attempts at all levels to accommodate the changing conditions. Many of these countries still cannot determine the factors that influence the sustainability of their mangroves which normally come under the responsibility of ministries or departments of forestry, fisheries, natural resources, environment and lands. It is common to have jurisdictional overlaps and conflicting sectoral policies. This overview will present the current state of mangroves and some of the issues that characterise their use in the Pacific Islands, the threats they face and the management arrangements that are in place. The chapter will also illustrate the roles of the customary and traditional owners of the resource and governments at the local, national and regional levels and the challenges that mangrove management must overcome in order to ensure the integrity and health of this habitat that is fundamental to human wellbeing.
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