swordfish PFRP Home > Socio-Cultural Projects List

Social Aspects of the Pelagic Fisheries, Phase II: The Hawaii Troll and Handline Fishery

Progress Reports (PDF): FY 2001, FY 2000, FY 1999, FY 1998 (see below)

Project Overview
This continuing project focuses on the social and cultural nature of troll and handline pelagic fisheries in Hawaii. In Phase I, a typology of fishing trips was developed to reflect "profit," "expense," "recreational," and other kinds of commitments to fishing. In Phase II, the conceptual framework was expanded and a ritual model was developed and tested to complement a rational model of fishing involvement. Pelagic fishing is objectively coded as a work/leisure activity, and subjectively experienced as a sacred/mundane "action gamble". In Phase II, ethnographic fieldwork, survey results, and historical research activities have concentrated on the validation of fishing trip categories, and the local knowledge that Hawaii fishermen have of the pelagic fisheries. Topics of inquiry have also included the social organization of fisheries, social networks involving fishermen, distribution networks, the identification of fishery issues perceived as important by fishermen, and ethnic differences.

Principal Investigator:
Dr. Marc Miller
School of Marine Affairs
University of Washington
3707 Brooklyn Avenue NE
Seattle, Washington 98105-6715
Phone (206) 543-7004
FAX (206) 543-1417
email: mlmiller@u.washington.edu

rainbow horizontal bar

ANNUAL REPORT FOR FY 1998

P.I.: Marc L. Miller

Purpose of the Project

This overarching goal of this multiphase project is a baseline sociocultural case study of the Hawai'i troll and handline pelagic fishery. Phase I objectives (achieved and reported in Social Aspects of Pacific Pelagic Fisheries: Phase I: The Hawai'i Troll and Handline Fishery,SOEST 96-04, Jimar Contribution 96-302) were to 1) describe the institutional environment of the fishery, 2) reveal the social organization of the fishery and 3) identify fishermen's perceptions of fishery issues. Another major research goal that was achieved involved the development of a conceptual framework for the continuation of cultural and social studies of the fishery.

Progress in FY 1998

This progress report describes work completed through June 1998 for Phase II of the project and provides a timeline for project completion.

Summary of progress

This continuing project focuses on the social and cultural nature of troll and handline pelagic fisheries in Hawai'i. In Phase I, a typology of fishing trips was developed to reflect "profit," "expense," "recreational," and other kinds of commitments to fishing. In Phase II, the conceptual framework was expanded and a ritual model was developed and tested to complement a rational model of fishing involvement. Pelagic fishing is objectively coded as a work/leisure activity, and subjectively experienced as a sacred/mundane "action gamble." In Phase II, ethnographic fieldwork, survey research, and historical research activities have concentrated on the validation of fishing trip categories, and the local knowledge that Hawai'i fishermen have of the pelagic fisheries. Topics of inquiry have also included the social organization of fisheries, social networks involving fishermen, distribution networks, the identification of fishery issues perceived as important by fishermen, and ethnic differences.

Project Objectives

Objective One: Describe the social organization and selected cultural aspects of Hawai'i's troll and handline fishery.

Historical Context
The research team continues to gather data relating to the historical context of the fishery. A particularly interesting find was the recovery of serial monographs from Nupepa Kuokoa describing Native Hawaiian fishing methods from the perspective of a Native fisherman in 1902. Another set of historical data were provided by a kupuna on Hawai'i from his family records dating to the mid-1800's; these described ancient Hawaiian fishing methods and legends. These and other sources will assist in characterizing pertinent historical aspects of the pelagic fishery in Hawai'i with emphasis on relationship to present issues.

Social Organization and Social Networks
The socio-demographic, cultural, and social structural aspects of Hawai'i's pelagic fishery continue to be the focal points of the project. The current focus of the project is on the social structural and cultural aspects of fishery participants as evident in the villages of Miloli'i and Ho'okena on Hawai'i, and at Waianae and Haleiwa on 0'ahu. Research has progressed from a diagnostic survey-oriented endeavor, now completed (N=180), into a more in-depth observational study that will provide detailed case information anal analysis.

Examination of Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR, State of Hawai'i) landings data is providing understanding of socio-demographic aspects of the fishery at a more general level of analysis. A new database being developed by the State's Boating and Ocean Recreation Division (BORD) may also ultimately prove to be useful in describing relevant demographic aspects of pelagic fishermen, but has not yet been completed by the agency. Project members will remain in contact with BORD with the intent of acquiring and analyzing the data for the final report.

Distribution Networks
The project continues to research the ultimate disposition of harvested pelagic fish. Members of the project are currently conducting analyses of social interaction in fish marketing processes, sharing and reciprocity within nuclear and extended family relations, and ceremonial and other social aspects of fish consumption.

Important Fishery Issues as Perceived by Fishermen
A wide range of issues perceived as important by pelagic fishermen has emerged from analysis of the project survey. The in-depth qualitative component of the project is allowing the team to examine the social and cultural context of these. To cite a single instance, the survey revealed that most pelagic fishermen surveyed oppose foreign long-line vessels working offshore since they often believe these are responsible for increasingly diminished resources in the nearshore waters. There is relatively more support, however, for locally-based longline vessels. Ongoing interaction with small vessel fishermen is allowing members of the project to understand and describe the social and cultural factors that underlay this disparity in perception about foreign and local longline vessels engaging in the same enterprise. Other such issues include the structural aspects of the market and market conditions, competition with fishermen using nets, inter-ethnic relations on the water, and interactions between experienced and inexperienced fishermen and between "local" and "non-local" fishermen.

Ethnic Differences
We expect that the project will make an important contribution to understanding ethnic relations in Hawai'i as pelagic fishing provides an excellent arena within which to investigate the relationships and interactions between ethnic groups. To date it is clear that there is a high degree of cooperation and mutual respect between ethnicities on the water and on land. While there are cultural attributes unique to groups, it is often the case that these are shared across groups, resulting in a "Hawaiian style" that blurs the "lines" between ethnicities and associated behaviors and beliefs. This is not universally the case, however, since on occasion perceptions about one group or another can tend to polarize certain others. For instance, Filipino netters are often seen as not sharing in the same rules of conservation as the perceivers, often Native Hawaiians or local haoles. Meanwhile, on Hawai'i, there are similar perceptions about haoles on the part of Native Hawaiians. This does not suggest that Native Hawaiians or other groups are unified in such beliefs, indeed, our research reveals that a lack of unity may, for instance, ultimately diminish the potential of Native Hawaiians on Hawai'i to initiate a process of modern self-management of local fishery resources. Members of the project will continue to investigate issues of ethnicity in the coming months.

Hawaiian Fishing Traditions and Ecological Knowledge
The project continues to investigate the notion of "tradition" in the context of Native Hawaiian pelagic fishing. While certain historical traditions continue in and out of the water, it must be noted that no culture, no tradition endures time without change, and Hawaiian traditions and culture are like any other in this respect. While there are efforts afoot to revive ancient ways of fishery resource conservation, especially on Hawai'i, these do not deny sensibility - fishermen are not, of course, reverting to woven line and bone hooks. There is rather an emerging sense of combining the best of the old with the best of the new. Efforts to renew old conservation methods on Hawai'i, for instance, are requiring recognition and advocacy of ancient conservation techniques, local oversight of fishing, and inter-village cooperation to manage the resources. These efforts are combined, at the same time, with use of modern fishing gear and close interaction with contemporary state government. That local management and moitoring articulates with the broader issues of Native Hawaiian rights and sovereignty issues intensifies the cogency of this ongoing component of project research.

The project has also undertaken an effort to define the meaning of "fishing community" as it exists or is absent in Hawai'i. This effort derives from provisions in the Magnuson Act to allocate funds through the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WESPAC) to Native "communities" deeply involved in fishing for the purpose of economic development and/or perpetuation of "traditional" fishing methods and fishing-related culture. Thus far, WESPAC has opted to define "community" in the broadest of terms that will obviate any single village or place from receiving funds. Project findings to date suggest that the issue may be deserving of more rigorous empirically-based research since Miloli'i, for instance, exhibits many of the characteristics typically used to define "fishing community."

Objective Two: Contribute to Definitions of Analytical Categories of Fishing and Fishermen

Empirical findings of the project suggest that potential future pelagic fisheries management based on the "type" of fishing undertaken is subject to possible mis-typing of participants, and that due consideration of the unique nature of pelagic fishing in Hawai'i (and the Paciic generally) should precede development of categories of fishermen and development of criteria for being included in such categories. For example, there appears to be relatively few active pelagic fishery participants who do not at some point sell some of their catch for profit or to pay for trip expenses. Yet it would be inaccurate to label many such fishermen as distinctly "commercial" fishermen or to regulate their activities as such since these same individuals typically keep some or most of their catch for subsistence or to share with family, friends or neighbors. Further, all of these fishermen enjoy fishing and the label "recreational" might be as accurate or (inaccurate) as "commercial." On the other hand, there are many fishermen who sell most of their catch, but who also fish for enjoyment, for the sake of camaraderie, for the chance to keep some of their catch to eat or share.

Clearly, the lines characterizing motivation for fishing are often blurred, and project researchers are recognizing that for small vessel pelagic fishing in Hawai i, the kind of fisherman one is often depends on emerging factors - whether fish are being caught, and if so, how big they are, how many, the market prices potentially received, and so on. If no fish are coming up, perhaps the fishing is for fun. If lots of little ones or a couple of big ones are coming up, perhaps it is a subsistence trip with recreational benefits. If "da kine" are being caught and lots of them, maybe they will end up on the auction block or being sold along the roadside - the trip will be paid for, with money in the pocket, and a good time had. Since any given fisherman may engage in any of these kinds of trips, depending on emerging conditions, it would be extremely difficult, perhaps spurious to label (and manage) an individual as any given type. Woven through and around this emerging and integrated definition is the fact that, as a fishermen of any type, one participates in or is aware of the Hawaiian style of fishing in which certain methods prevail, fish is often shared with enthusiasm and not necessarily with concern for reciprocity (though such is common), camaraderie between groups of participants is enjoyed, and talking story about the trip is essential. It may be more appropriate then, to manage pelagic fisheries in Hawai'i from the perspective of "Hawaiian style," and its inherent variations.

The project will continue to explore fishing, motivations and kinds of trips in upcoming months. The geographical focus will continue to be at Waianae and Haleiwa on 0'ahu, and at Miloli'i and Ho'okena on Hawai'i. Field staff are using participant observation (fishing with local fishermen), observational methods (e.g., attending meetings, fishing tournaments, observing harbor activities), and informal interviews as their principal research tools.

Objective Three: Describe the Institutional Environment in which Fishery Management Policies are Designed and Implemented

While there has been little directed effort to meet this objective, description of the management environment supporting Hawai i's pelagic fishery is being facilitated by the research team's ongoing interaction with key persons directly involved in fishery management in the state. This situation is ideal for enabling an "inside view" of management. Understanding gained from close interaction with those in charge, however, is somewhat sensitive in its revelation of internal politics and processes and the relation of these to policy. Thus, while the project will describe the institutional environment of pelagic fishery management, the description will necessarily be somewhat superficial in nature and limited to those aspects most pertinent to our primary objective of examining the social and cultural aspects of pelagic fishing and pelagic fishery participants.

Objective Four: Refine a Theoretical Framework for Ongoing Research of the Social and Cultural Aspects of Pelagic Fishing in Hawai'i

Despite its intensive efforts, the project will have only scratched the surface of social and cultural aspects of pelagic fishing in Hawai'i. In this sense, its findings may be considered as preliminary to ongoing investigation, and suitable theoretical frameworks will need to be developed as future research progresses. The neo-Durkheimian model used to explore motivational factors for fishing is proving highly effective for understanding the interrelated and emergent nature of motive and its relationship to trip outcome for Hawaii's pelagic fishermen. With respect to the future, many topics have emerged as important avenues for exploration. These include but are not limited to: occupational plurality of participants, social networks aniong participants and the relationship of these to efficient fishing, conservation ethics across the fishery, ethnicity and its relationship to efficient fishing and social interaction, the Native Hawaiian fishing famiily, and mortality and morbidity on small pelagic fishing vessels.

Timeline

In sum, Phase II of the project is continuing on course to meet its primary objectives. The diagnostic survey of selected socio-demographic and perceptual elements for over 180 pelagic fishermen has been completed and data are being entered presently. Fieldwork continues, with the immediate focus on description of tournament fishing at Waianae and Haleiwa. Field staff will continue to observe activities at these locations and at Miloli'i and Ho'okena on Hawai'i throughout the 1998 summer.

September will see the completion of data entry and analysis for the diagnostic survey, final analysis of DLNR and BORD Data (as available), compilation and analysis of participant and other observation-based field notes, and ongoing work on the draft final report. Fieldwork will continue during this period with follow-up interviews, observation, and fishing trips, as necessary to validate and verify initial findings and analysis. We expect final production of a draft report by mid-October and, following the input of reviewers, completion of the final report.

rainbow horizontal bar

This page updated August 22, 2006