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Marine Conservation and Indigenous Fishing Rights in Vanuatu

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Conservation 4
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The global urgency for marine conservation in Vanuatu has increased in response to environmental pressures and the degradation of marine ecosystems (Roberts et al., 2017). As international conservation efforts expand, their impacts on indigenous populations in Vanuatu face challenges as modern conservation policies undermine their traditional marine practices (Pulido, 2017). For thousands of years, Vanuatu’s indigenous people have relied on marine ecosystems for their cultural practices and economic needs (Schlosberg, 2013). However, modern conservation policies conflict with indigenous fishing practices, highlighting the justice challenge of balancing marine sustainability efforts and the protection of indigenous rights (Bennett et al., 2018). This justice analysis will critically explore the frameworks of distributive and recognitional justice, focusing on the equitable resource distribution of marine resources and acknowledgment of indigenous sovereignty. Examining these frameworks in Vanuatu will enable a deeper understanding of modern conservation strategies, and their potential to marginalise or empower indigenous communities.

Distributive justice refers to the fair allocation of resources and benefits within society (Jackson, 2015). Indigenous communities within Vanuatu have depended on marine environments for their livelihoods for sustenance and cultural practices, but modern conservation initiatives impose restrictions on traditional fishing practices (Ruddle, 1998). The establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) such as those under the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) can limit access to fishing grounds (Berdej et al., 2015), which would lead to exclusion of indigenous fishers from their ancestral waters, threatening the economic well-being indigenous populations have on marine ecosystems. This demonstrates prioritisation of economic gains for commercial and tourism interests (Overtz, 2006) impacting communities, thus forcing indigenous fishers displaced by MPA’s to adapt or relocate to less sustainable income sources like illegal fishing (Gruby et al., 2017). Furthermore, this raises significant concerns over distributive justice as Vanuatu’s indigenous communities bear the cost of conservation; for instance, restricted access to vital resources such as harvesting fish and local trade (Veitayaki, 1997), whilst the external stakeholders reap the benefits. Ensuring distributive justice requires that conservation policies are shared equitably and to avoid inequalities; through recognising indigenous stewardship of marine resources, protecting indigenous rights and sharing benefits (Parsons et al., 2021), preventing their marginalisation for the profit of others.

Recognitional justice emphasises the importance of acknowledging and respecting the rights, knowledge and practices of indigenous people (Preston and Carr, 2020). This involves recognising the traditional ecological knowledge that indigenous communities in Vanuatu cultivated from their interactions with marine ecosystems (Blanco et al., 2013). In addition, these resources are an integral part of their cultural identity stemming from sustainable conservation practices honed by their ancestors, like rotational fishing and the use of biodiversity to enhance ecosystem resilience (Kobluk et al., 2021). Contemporary conservation policies such as CTI overlook incorporating indigenous practices, representing a form of recognitional injustice. By failing to incorporate indigenous perspectives into decision-making processes, these policies threaten their sustainable practices they aim to achieve, as traditional methods (Eriksson et al., 2017) provide valuable insights in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystem management. The integration of indigenous voices and practices into marine management is essential not only for ethical governance but also for sustaining fish populations (Buckwell et al., 2020) and protecting the habitats through practices like rotational fishing to allow the ecosystem to recover between harvests. Above all, recognitional justice for Vanuatu can address environmental challenges whilst honouring the dignity, respect and contribution of indigenous communities to lead to sustainable development for marine conservation and fishing rights.

In conclusion, the justice implications of marine conservation in Vanuatu highlight the need for policies to respect distributive and recognitional justice, ensuring fair resource allocation and recognising indigenous rights for effective sustainable conservation.

Word Count: 600 words

References

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