Fisher Data Analysis

Case Study: Fisher Impressions

Two years down the track, and the phenomenal momentum that the SEASMART Program has gained is unbelievably sensational on several fronts. While its scientific and ecological significance is far and wide, the magnitude of its socio-economic relevance is amazing.  These have been reflected on the credible assertion that to date, the aquarium fishing has become, inter alia, an alternative source of income, economically comparable with other regular sources of income, and has even addressed other distinct but related issues such as gender inequality. Although, equal degree of satisfaction is uttered by both the project implementers and the local people of the respective project sites, it is indeed the fishers that have been meaningfully transformed. They have therefore, expressed contentment and pride constantly relating their delight to both tangible and intangible benefits.

“Aquarium fishing em i gutpela samtin” (Aquarium fishing is a good thing), expressed one of the female fishers from Fisherman Island during a brief interview as she recalled on one occasion where she made over K600 in a single order served by the Facility. This fisher’s subsequent proceeds average K300.00 per order. Similarly, a fisherman from Pari admits to have been earning on average K250 per trip and adds, “mi ting ol liklik pis na bai mi no nap kisim bikpela moni” (I thought the fish (aquarium) are small in size and therefore, I would not get a big amount of money). Such gleeful expressions of the fishers are a measure to which aquarium fishing has permeated into the lives of the local people as a comparatively lucrative industry that consistently competes fairly well with, or invariably better than other sources of income.

On Fisherman Island, for instance, on average an aquarium fisher earns between K80 and K100 every fishing trip that last for 3 days. Mathematically, the fisher earns about K300 per fortnight, an amount equivalent to or intermittently, higher than amounts earned from other sources of income or even the salary range of the average workforce in Papua New Guinea. The highlight of this comparison, however, is such that the other sources of income essentially require substantial expenditure in fuel, batteries, and other necessities as opposed to a virtually ‘little expense’ on aquarium fishing on the part of the local fisherman. In theory, this implies that the profit margin for aquarium fishing is far higher.

Given this impressive profit value, at a span of only 2 years since its introduction, aquarium fishing is rapidly becoming an absolutely credible livelihood option for the local fishers besides the other income-generating ‘heavy-weights’, including but not limited to, food fishing, shell collection and the then beche-de-mer fishery. Beche-de-mer, for example, has been a major source of income for many Central province coastal villages until its closure last year. The economically deteriorating impact of the closure at the household level is surely far from pleasant “…bikos taim ol i pasim korema (beche-de-mer), emi hat tru lo painim moni…”, (When beche-de-mer harvesting was stopped, it was difficult to get money) commented an aquarium fan from Keapara. This gap was closed with the timely introduction of the Aquarium project.

Not only that but the other regular income-generating alternatives obviously come under a lot of pressure due to increased users over time. At KAK, the Alukune youth group, in a meeting identified overcrowding as a major issue with fishing at the lagoon. This increasingly intense competition for fishing space has every so often put many people out of fishing and therefore, out of money. Another important effect of too many fishers is a decrease in the volume of catch, thereby reducing the expected amount of money out of the catches. A female aquarium fisher from Keapara could not believe that on one occasion she made K315 when she compared between K50 – K100 she used to make from the sales of seashells and octopus together. Other fishers also shared the same sentiment acknowledging many good effects when SEASMART Program aquarium fishing was established and consequently diversified the fishing activities.

This diversification of fishing activities has enabled equal and fair participation from both men and women. A very satisfied female fisher could not hold back her joy for equaling her male counterparts in her earnings. For a total of 4 fishing trips she made K908.85 and answered when asked, “mi hamamas nogut tru taim mi joinim displa project…pastaim mi no ting bai mi kisim bigpla moni, tasol nau yu lukim” (“I was very happy when I joined the project…I did not expect to get that much, but now see” as she referred to the K908.85 she had earned so far).

But perhaps the crest of the issue of gender equality on this aquarium project is one that a male fisherman described. Actually the interview was cut short over the phone during this particular night due to limited credits. Nonetheless, as he had promised that night, this fisher had come to the EcoEZ Inc. office the next day to complete the interview. And as we sat outside the office, he had a slow drag at his rolled tobacco, and started. “Brata had lo toktok yah” (Bro it’s hard to express), took another drag, looked around to make sure that nobody was around, looked up at me, smiled and continued “…mipla save saikap na wokim natin natin taim mipela go lo solwara wantaim ol meri. Ol man save tisim ol meri na mipela olgeta save lafdai. Dispela kain save wokim wok interesting na mipela save wokim gutpela wok”. (We get stimulated and go crazy when we are with women out at sea. The men would tease the women and everyone would die laughing. This is enjoyable and helps us to make good work).

While the literal implication of this brief but exclusive interview maybe unconventional as far as the normal human mind is concerned, the symbolic interpretations rendered are spectacular, owing much to the defeat of the acute issue of gender inequality, which is generally accepted as a typical characteristic of gender relations in PNG including all the project sites. For example, the sense of humor suspended within the workplace (i.e out at sea) and the joy shared by both men and women actually breaks the barrier of the traditionally isolated and distinguished ‘world of men’ or ‘world of women’ defined by their distinct roles. Sharing same roles and responsibilities is an attitude not present in many typical PNG societies. But doing the same job on this aquarium project opens up plenty of scope for equal participation.

It also goes without saying that, under such opportunity, women are not only able to work along side men as equal partners in development under the SEASMART Program, but also women are able to participate competitively. Another woman for example was earning on average K150 per fishing period. She is in reality, amongst the top earning aquarium fishers, which comprises of both male and female.

So EcoEZ Inc. SEASMART Program has attracted a lot of attention from the local people besides the fact that it has cemented the interest of those fishers already involved. The burning enthusiasm amongst the fishers as well as those keen to join, is the driving force behind the ever-growing need to expand the project to include the excluded and give the best to the least. From the verandah of the fishers, the profound experiences of aquarium fishing are beyond imagination.

2009 Fisher Data Analysis

January – December 2009 Summary Information.

Site Income Projected Potential

The objective of the Site Income Projected Potential is to provide the estimated value of the marine aquarium organisms in each Fishery Management Area. The results presented in this section are based on Total Allowable Catch limits and fisher buying price calculations.

While the data below provides an analysis of the estimated value of the reef, it is important to keep in mind the following clarifications and limitations.

• Organism Size. Different sizes of vertebrates or invertebrates often entails different pricing. In calculating the estimated value of the reef, the price of the marine aquarium organisms were taken from the average of known price and sizes.
• Demand

a) Importers orders. Market demand can sometimes be inconsistent under different circumstances which affect the regular flow of trade between these prospective buyers and the facility in Port Moresby.

b) Facility Orders to FMAs. As a result of the seasonal fluctuations at the global market, the pattern of trade between the facility and fishers may be disrupted wherein orders given to the local fishers can be delayed, interrupted or even called off.

c) Shipment Costs. The high shipment costs involved can put a lot of pressure on the estimated value of the reefs in the FMAs.

• Organism Seasonality. The RAM division has developed a Seasonality Calendar[4] focusing on three (3) main species based on their obvious seasonality behavior. The key factors noted in producing the seasonality calendar are fishers catch data, survey records, FFD division trainers data, fishers observation and time.

a) Reproduction cycle. The lifecycles of the aquarium fish species can have an impact on the importers’ orders. Species that may not be in abundance due to its reproduction cycle but are in demand at that particular time by importers mean that importer demands will not be fully met. It also implies that on some occasions, ordered sizes and numbers will not be met.

b) Tides rhythm. Cycles of the different tides have been another natural factor that have influence the expected projections. Mid-year low tides during the day are affecting the fishers’ ability to meet the order limits. High tides can also affect projections in that orders maybe unfilled as the sea become too rough for the fishers who have been trained and are accustomed to fishing under normal conditions.

• Fisher Productivity

a) Effectiveness of fishing gear. Deteriorating gear reduce the effectiveness of fishing and, thus have a limiting effect on the order served by the facility which can affect the expected numbers and species of the fish ordered. Proper maintenance of fishing gear is encouraged.

b) Skills and technique. Skills and techniques of fishing are paramount to the both the quality and quantity of the catches. Low level of skills can cause difficulty in trying to get orders on time as well as difficulty in administering an acceptably decent quality of work.

c) Fishers interest. Fishers interest and motivation can fall at times which mean that an order may not be attended to by a number of fisherman therefore, the expected amount of work in terms of fishing is not carried out.

d) Customs and Tradition. Social and cultural occurrences in the village can have an influence on the expected rate of work and progress. Such activities as bride price, feasts, death and other ceremonies can divert attention and time of fishers.

e) Incentives (e.g. prices). Incentives actually propel the rate at which fishers operate. High prices of fish has seen a lot of commitment and consistent efforts from fishers while low prices discourage a lot of fishers from actively participating in completing aquarium fish orders.

• Weather Conditions

a) Bad weather. Tropical rough seas and strong wind together with strong currents, which are typical of the marine environment in all the FMAs, mean that there are times when it is impossible to execute an order under these conditions.

b) Water temperature. Generally, mid year temperatures are low and the surface of the water can be also cold. While this may have an unfavorable impact on the easy access of targeted fish, cold temperatures can also restrict fishers from staying long hours in the water when they are required.

c) Natural phenomenon (Bleaching). The effect of global warming can lead to coral bleaching which actually destroys the natural habitat of marine aquarium organisms. Other natural and human disasters can also influence expected projections. Natural disasters such as tidal waves, tsunami, and cyclones that can have a restrictive factor to fishing, can also reduce a great portion of the population of aquarium species, which means that it will take a long time for the aquarium fish population to recruit.

• Awareness

a) Management. Fisheries Management concepts are control mechanisms used for sustainability of fisheries resources such as the aquarium fishery. But undefined goals and ambiguous management strategies, can potentially limit the success of establishing the value of reefs in the project site. This happens when restrictive measures are considered as the best tools without any considerations on the sustainable development of the resources.

• Government support and programs

a) Infrastructure. Infrastructures such as roads, and transport are a major challenge to the smooth flow of the trade. Deteriorating road conditions, for instance can be a logistical nightmare while unreliable transport services is actually time-consuming. These types of conditions every so often interrupt the smooth flow of the trade that results in a struggle to establish the real value of reefs.

b) Finance. Lack of financial services such as access to banking or loans and financial constraints such as lack of money are major challenges at fisher levels.

c) Airlines stability (freight cost, flight schedule certainties). Flight conditions can affect the estimation of the reef value. Flights in PNG are very expensive and often unreliable which can restrict the number of exports. Flight cancellations and/or delays cause a lot of inconvenience that may also affect the quality of the shipment.

d) Credit and finance (fishers loans, funds). Unorganized and unavailable Credit and financial arrangements for fishers can be a barrier to the good flow in the operation of the trade.

e) DEC. Policy and legislative environment can be challenging particularly when extreme conservation-oriented policies are emphasized at the national level that overrides other subsidiary management concepts such as those aimed at the marine aquarium fishing industry. This means that the potential of the aquarium trade is limited to a great extent, consequently obstructing the potential for estimating the value of the reefs.

f) Tourism. Misconception about the trade from a tourism point of view can cause misunderstanding and false allegations about the trade. If the trade is perceived to be exploiting these products it can affect the trade to a great degree. It is therefore imperative that awareness and sustainability strategies is designed and established. 

Summary of Site Income Projection