Evolution of the artisanal fisher: Case studies from Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea

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Coastal fisheries

In this article we describe the rapid uptake of technology that increases fishing efficiency in two parts of western Melanesia: Ghizo Island in Western Province, Solomon Islands, and Milne Bay Province in Papua New Guinea. We present evidence that demonstrates a disturbing lack of awareness among fishers of the finite nature of the stocks they are exploiting, and we argue that without corresponding systematic management interventions, the technological transformations we are now witnessing will accelerate the presentpattern of sequential overfishing of commerci ally valuable species.