DataSheet_1_Spatial use of marine resources in a rural village: A case study from Qoma, Fiji.pdf

Understanding the value of fishers’ Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge (ITK) and of fishers’ spatial use of customary fishing grounds is an important contributing factor to marine resource management. This study investigates and documents ITK of marine resources and the associated spatial knowledge of fishing areas in Qoma, a rural fishing village in Fiji. Using a sex-generational lens, our research combines theory and methods from Participatory Geographic Information Systems and ethnography. We document how fishermen and fisherwomen use geographic space in their traditional fishing grounds showing changes in the areas they travel to and fish. Targeted marine resources and knowledge of those resources differ between fishermen and fisherwomen, reflecting the traditional roles of men and women within Indigenous Fijian (iTaukei) culture. Fishermen and fisherwomen of ≥60 years have a richer knowledge of marine resources than younger fishers (men and women), measured by the number of unique species they could identify or describe using local taxonomic classification. Our ethnography findings highlight the importance of maintaining this ITK to preserve marine resources of significance for future generations. Our study concludes with insights into three knowledge gaps; the spatial use of traditional fishing grounds by fishermen and fisherwomen (including a statistical analysis and map), generational differences in fisher knowledge, and the distinctive differences in fishermen’s and fisherwomen’s ITK of fishing. This study also discusses how these three key insights when combined can contribute to improved local fisheries resource management.

厘清渔民的原住民与传统知识（Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge，ITK）及其对传统渔场的空间利用价值，是完善海洋资源管理的重要支撑因素。本研究以斐济乡村渔村科马（Qoma）为研究区域，调查并记录了当地海洋资源相关的ITK以及与之关联的渔场空间知识。本研究采用性别-代际视角，融合了参与式地理信息系统（Participatory Geographic Information Systems）与民族志的理论与方法。本研究记录了男女渔民如何在传统渔场中利用地理空间，并揭示了其作业捕捞区域的变迁情况。男女渔民所关注的海洋资源及相关认知存在显著差异，这反映了斐济原住民（Indigenous Fijian，iTaukei）文化中传统的性别分工角色。以可通过本土分类体系识别或描述的特有物种数量为衡量标准，60岁及以上的男女渔民，其海洋资源相关知识储备相较于年轻渔民（无论性别）更为丰富。本研究的民族志调研结果凸显了传承此类ITK的重要性，以保护对后代具有重要意义的海洋资源。本研究最后剖析了三类知识空白：一是男女渔民对传统渔场的空间利用模式（包含统计分析与专题地图），二是渔民知识储备的代际差异，三是男女渔民在渔业相关ITK上的显著区别。本研究还探讨了将这三类核心研究发现相结合，如何助力优化当地渔业资源管理工作。