Use of traditional knowledge in managing traditional fishing ground known as Alata in the Northern part of Malaita Province, Solomon Islands.

The story I will going to reflect upon as an event that taught me the concept of sustainability is on management of traditional fishing ground known as Alata to us and the people situated in the coastal part of North Malaita, Solomon Islands. I came from a group of people known as Lau where the ocean is everything to us. We do not have much land to cultivate yet the ocean is where we depend on for our livelihood. This is clearly started by FAO that majority of the 80% rural-based population of the Solomon Islands engage in fishery. It is part of their culture (FAO 2002). It is also started by Aquaro, that Solomon Islanders eat approximately 47.9 kilograms of fish each year, making them the highest fish consumers in the world (Aqorau, 2001). The ocean not only a source of food for us, yet it also provides income for us to meet some of our basic needs.
In our dialect, Alata is the name given for traditional fishing ground where it is primary owned by tribes. The ownership and management of the Alatas is rooted in our knowledge system once handed down from our ancestors from generation to generation. Such knowledge refers to others as Indigenous knowledge, “Indigenous knowledge is owned by local peoples, expressed in their native languages, and applied in the practice of their daily lives,” (Hunn and Meilleur, 2010). This knowledge system is part of us and it is what sustains us from time to time.
The effectiveness in managing the Alata is in the way our communities are socially constructed. Chiefs and elders plays a huge role in managements of the Alata. They are the responsible people giving instruction when to fish or not to the rest of the community. The statues they have in our communities gives the power in giving orders to follow. This is part of our lives to pay respect and to submit accordingly whenever there is an order is given by the head of the tribe mainly the Chief.
The event of protecting the Alata begins on that day when head of the tribe where owns a particular areas giving orders known as Oifafia asi, to put a stop not to fish in the designated area. This is conservation to us traditionally to build fish or stock of other marine resources. Interestingly, people turn to obey without hesitation until that day the ban was lifted known as Famola’a, before it can be can accessible to fish. Basically, the orders are made if there is an important event to the community ahead that involves feasting. This is to enable the catch for the feast is enough for huge number of people that will going to attend the Maoma.
The Alata can be protected 3 to 6 month depends entirely on the instruction given by the Chief. This is very important for reproduction and regrowth of marine species. It protects habitats and assist in restoring the ocean without further degradation. This help marine species to maximize their resilience from other stresses such as increased ocean temperature and to reverse the decline of marine ecosystem (Kenchington, Ward and Hegerl, 2003)
When I was a child, going on a fishing trip after the ban was lifted known as Famola’a by the chief was interesting. There you can see abundance of marine organism. We can catch six to seven wooden canoe loaded with different types of fish for the Maoma. It is a moment full of pride and excitement to us because this signifies the Maoma will be a successful one. This is an occasion where we build our relationship with other neighboring tribes stronger and continue to show our support towards each other.
Indigenous knowledge in management of marine resources plays an important role in sustainable development. Our actions to conserve results is Sustainable. Brundtland report define, Sustainable development as, “Development that meets our present needs without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs” (Cassen, 1987). This is to ensure there always a balance in human relationship with the environment. Poor management of natural resources results in resource depletion that can lead to an imbalance between human relationship with the environment.

As I grew up, I came to embrace the importance of traditional knowledge towards Sustainable development. This event taught me a lot and help me to think critically about the way we protect our marine resources. Such knowledge I never taught anywhere yet it is something we as a group of people we leave it and its naturally given to us. It is not something we choose to do yet it is our obligation to obey what was our leaders especially the chief says. I see such event is not about keeping the ocean just because we want to catch more fish for the event. It is about the bond that hold us together as a group of people work hand in hand for the good of all. This is the beauty of culture towards sustainable development.
Nowadays, the communal spirit such as the one we have in paying respect to our elders whenever a decision is made to protect our marine resources is easily eroding. This generation turn to ignore such knowledge thus the way our communities socially constructed are nearly collapsed. This is worrying me as an individual passionate about upholding such knowledge to drive development within our communities. Appreciating our way of life in doing things is vital towards sustainability.
There is an urgent need for us the people within the Northern part of Malaita province to rethink and act in upholding such practice. The value of our traditional knowledge in protecting our natural resources for the good of all and the generation to come should not be taken for granted. It is high time for our leaders to appreciate such knowledge as a way forward to achieve sustainable use of our marine resource. It also with great importance to educate our children to value such knowledge as a way forward to in protecting the marine resources for future use.

In brief, sustainable development can be achievable through the use of indigenous knowledge. In Pacific context, we do value a lot of indigenous knowledge and belief system that could be a driving force to achieve sustainable communities in our rural areas. Management of the Alata is one example on the importance of indigenous knowledge in conservation wish is a way forward for sustainable future for us small island nations. A lot of practices through the use of our knowledge system is still out there yet we turn to pay less attention to those practices. This Indigenous knowledge system do hold an important aspect of our lives and it has a deeper meaning to us rather than looking at it as a tool in conservation.