422
Destruction and Recovery of Reef Systems, Reef and Man
Taiwan, Panama, USA on trust territories, Thailand, Vietnam, Tonga,
France in Polynesia). Some governments have undertaken palliative
measures, which however do not give results because of the opposition of
people accustomed to take everything they can from the reefs (Indonesia,
East Samoa). Therefore, the situation in most reef regions is still not one for
optimism (Salvat 1981a, 1987).
As it has been mentioned above, the traditional rules of preservation of
reef resources were abolished by the colonial administration to make place
for the principles of free fishery, market economy and profit (Johannes
1982). But this did not happen everywhere. The traditional rules were
preserved in Fiji, Palu, Yap, and in some regions of New Guinea and
Indonesia. These traditional rules also included the main elements of
scientifically based programs of fishery regulation, recommended for the
temperate shelves. They propose the limitation of catch. Young fish that are
caught have to be returned to the sea. Fishery is prohibited during the
periods and in places of spawning. Definite lots of reef remain untouched
for the recovery of the fish exploited populations. Overcatch is strictly
prohibited. Aboriginal fishermen knew more about fish than scientists
nowadays (Johannes 1981b). This author holds that the attempts of the
administrations of developing countries to take measures for the protection
of reefs and their resources should be based upon the centuries-old
experience of aborigines in traditional fishery (Johannes 1982). The strategy
of management of reef resources should be based also on ecological theory,
recognizing man with his tendencies of social development as part of the
ecosystem, i.e., as a large dominating predator (Bradbury and Reichelt
1981). Johannes (1978b) recommended to reestablish the traditional rules of
fishery based on the distribution of the reef area between owner families.
The families could make agreements with commercial fishermen. Other
kinds of free commercial fishery should be stopped. The scientific
recommendation on the regulation of fishery based upon the protection of
particular overfished species did not produce the desired effect (Gomez
1982). Prohibition or the establishment of quotas, as a rule, does not work
in practice, because they are not recognized by fishermen as necessary. For
example, the government of Tonga appointed restricted zones for fishery
and established quotas of catch. But the local fishermen have still
exterminated Tridacna and overcaught large predatory fish. The aborigines
use destructive methods of fishery. They crush corals to extract anything
edible. As a result, the Tongan reefs are now seriously degraded (Chesher
1985; Dahl 1985).
In developing countries, such as French Polynesia, New Guinea, the
Philippines, and Mauritius, reef resources are exploited rather extensively.
But in these regions the local people depend less upon fish as a source of
protein. Fishery is oriented there toward the catch of large predatory fish
selling well on markets so as to earn money for importing foreign goods.
The same possibility is offered by extensively developing tourism. In these
Destruction and Recovery of Reef Systems, Reef and Man
Taiwan, Panama, USA on trust territories, Thailand, Vietnam, Tonga,
France in Polynesia). Some governments have undertaken palliative
measures, which however do not give results because of the opposition of
people accustomed to take everything they can from the reefs (Indonesia,
East Samoa). Therefore, the situation in most reef regions is still not one for
optimism (Salvat 1981a, 1987).
As it has been mentioned above, the traditional rules of preservation of
reef resources were abolished by the colonial administration to make place
for the principles of free fishery, market economy and profit (Johannes
1982). But this did not happen everywhere. The traditional rules were
preserved in Fiji, Palu, Yap, and in some regions of New Guinea and
Indonesia. These traditional rules also included the main elements of
scientifically based programs of fishery regulation, recommended for the
temperate shelves. They propose the limitation of catch. Young fish that are
caught have to be returned to the sea. Fishery is prohibited during the
periods and in places of spawning. Definite lots of reef remain untouched
for the recovery of the fish exploited populations. Overcatch is strictly
prohibited. Aboriginal fishermen knew more about fish than scientists
nowadays (Johannes 1981b). This author holds that the attempts of the
administrations of developing countries to take measures for the protection
of reefs and their resources should be based upon the centuries-old
experience of aborigines in traditional fishery (Johannes 1982). The strategy
of management of reef resources should be based also on ecological theory,
recognizing man with his tendencies of social development as part of the
ecosystem, i.e., as a large dominating predator (Bradbury and Reichelt
1981). Johannes (1978b) recommended to reestablish the traditional rules of
fishery based on the distribution of the reef area between owner families.
The families could make agreements with commercial fishermen. Other
kinds of free commercial fishery should be stopped. The scientific
recommendation on the regulation of fishery based upon the protection of
particular overfished species did not produce the desired effect (Gomez
1982). Prohibition or the establishment of quotas, as a rule, does not work
in practice, because they are not recognized by fishermen as necessary. For
example, the government of Tonga appointed restricted zones for fishery
and established quotas of catch. But the local fishermen have still
exterminated Tridacna and overcaught large predatory fish. The aborigines
use destructive methods of fishery. They crush corals to extract anything
edible. As a result, the Tongan reefs are now seriously degraded (Chesher
1985; Dahl 1985).
In developing countries, such as French Polynesia, New Guinea, the
Philippines, and Mauritius, reef resources are exploited rather extensively.
But in these regions the local people depend less upon fish as a source of
protein. Fishery is oriented there toward the catch of large predatory fish
selling well on markets so as to earn money for importing foreign goods.
The same possibility is offered by extensively developing tourism. In these