Patterns of Distribution of Pelagic Seafood on O'ahu:

Preliminary Results from the PFRP Fish Flow Project

PFRP Principal Investigators Workshop November 18-19, 2008

University of Hawaii, Honolulu

Edward Glazier, P.I.

Stewart Allen, Co-P.I.

Impact Assessment, Inc. NOAA Fisheries, PIFSCiai@hawaii.rr.com

Stewart.Allen@noaa.gov

Ethnographic Field Staff

Courtney Carothers, Univ. of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Fisheries and Ocean Science Melissa Iwamoto, State of Hawaii, Coastal Zone Management Program

Nicole Milne, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of GeographyKimberlee

Harding, Hawaii Pacific University, School of Natural Sciences

GIS Specialist

Rusty Scalf, Impact Assessment, Inc.

Overview of Presentation

•

Project rationale, objectives, research methods

•

Background on study areas

•

Preliminary findings, emphasis on spatial aspects of seafood distribution on Oahu

•

Discussion of next steps

Rationale

•

Research need identified at the 2005 PRFP Research Priorities Workshop

•

Examine “Fish Flow”

or “the sources, distribution channels, quantities, end use, and cultural value”

of pelagic and other fish in

island communities around the Western Pacific

•

Contribute to definitions of “fishing community”

in the Main Hawaiian Islands

First Step & Focus of Presentation

•

Do small-place fishing community boundaries make sense in Hawaii, or is the islands-as-communities definition valid?

•

Use case study approach

to examine seafood distribution in local

settings

•

Describe patterns of seafood distribution for:-

One island: Oahu

-

Two communities: Waianae and Haleiwa-

Four “distinct”

fleets:

(1) small boat consumption/recreation-oriented, (2) small boat part-time commercial, (3) small boat commercial, (4) Hawaii longline

Approach/Methods

•

Use social network methods

to identify groups of cooperating fishermen

in each harbor and fleet

•

Establish rapport and trust!

•

Conduct in-depth interviews with highly knowledgeable fishermen about typical

operations & patterns of distribution

•

Focus: document residence patterns, spatial & quantitative aspects of selling, sharing, consuming fish

Oahu

Hawai'i

Kaua'i

O'ahu

Moloka'i

MauiLana'i

Hawai'i

Kaua'i

O'ahu

Moloka'i

MauiLana'i

Hawai'i

Kaua'i

O'ahu

Moloka'i

MauiLana'i

Hawai'i

Kaua'i

O'ahu

Moloka'i

MauiLana'i

Year 2002 Year 2004

Year 2006 Year 2007

Pounds Landed

1,000100,000150,000200,000250,000

350,000450,000550,000600,000

Reported Small Boat Harvest All Gear Types

Haleiwa Socioeconomic ContextNorth Shore; post-plantation; economy now largely tourism-driven Population: 2,302 persons29% Asian ancestry, 25% Caucasian, 10% Hawaiian; 35% > two racesLocal households: extensive cooperation/sharing -

extended families

Select Economic and Social Indicators

(Decennial Census)

Factor Haleiwa State U.S.

Household income $39,643 $49,820 $41,994

Monthly rent $728 $779 $602% other than English 21.1 26.6 12.4

Unemployment rate 5.2 6.3 5.8

% pop. in poverty 17.6 10.7 12.4

Bachelor’s or higher 16.8 26.2 24.4

Waianae Social Context

Population: 10,871 persons27.3% Native Hawaiian; 19.4% Asian ancest., 14% Latino, 42% > 2 racesLocal households: extensive cooperation/sharing across extended families

Select Economic and Social Indicators

(Decennial Census)

Factor Waianae State U.S.

Household income $46,717 $49,820 $41,994

Monthly rent $633 $779 $602% other than English 20 26.6 12.4

Unemployment rate 13.4 6.3 5.8

% pop. in poverty 19.8 10.7 12.4

Bachelor’s or higher 7.5 26.2 24.4

Harbor & Fisheries Context

•

Harbor: 64 berths; 3 ramps•

FADs: II 11 mi NW; J 14 mi NNE; CO 22 mi W

•

3-4 commercial; 3-4 charter; many part-time commercial

•

Relatively localized

•

Pelagic species especially targeted, some bottom fishing

•

Exposed to trade winds; surface conditions often rough

•

Large winters swells common •

High fuel prices diminished boat fishing activity

•

Harbor: 109 berths; 7 ramps•

FADs: S 4 mi W; R is 5 mi WNW; V 9 mi NW

•

2-3 commercial; 2 charter; many part-time commercial

•

Less localized; many trailered•

Pelagic species especially targeted, some bottom fishing

•

Leeward coast; surface conditions often smooth

•

Some large winter swell events •

High fuel prices diminished boat fishing activity

Identifying the Networks•

Interview harbormasters to identify key fishermen

•

Contact fishers, discuss channels of cooperation/distribution

•

Subsequently contact newly-identified fishermen; repeat

•

Continue until no new persons identified (closed network)

•

Results in binary matrix of actor-to-actor relationships; can be analyzed to determine centrality & connectedness

•

Degree centrality measure

= variance as % of perfect star network of same size where sole node of star is connected to all other actors

(% of a fully centralized network)

Haleiwa Cooperation Network

Degree centrality = 13.5%

Relevant Attributes of the Haleiwa Network

•

29

fishermen: 7 consumption/recreation-oriented; 14 part-time

commercial; 3-4 full-time commercial; 3 charter

Distribution/Use of Fish over the Last Year

(reported average

%)

Group % Sold % Kept/Eaten % Shared

Consumption- Recreation Oriented

0 44 56

Part-Time Commercial

67 6 27

Full-Time Commercial

86 5 9

Charter 93 3 4

Total Average 56 15 29

Residence Distribution/Relationships: Haleiwa Co-operators

The Haleiwa Distribution Network

Spatial Distribution of Seafood: Haleiwa Source

The Waianae Cooperation Network

Degree Centrality = 6.79 (minimally centralized/connected)

Relevant Attributes of the Waianae Network••

2727

fishermen:

13 consumption/recreation; 5 part-time commercial; 5

“quasi-full-time”

commercial; 1 charter

Distribution/Use of Fish over the Last Year

(reported average

%)

Group % Sold % Kept/Eaten % Shared

Consumption- Recreation Oriented

0 33 67

Part-Time Commercial

38 16 46

Full-Time Commercial

69 13 18

Charter (n=1) 5 5 90

Total Average 22 24 54

Residence Distribution/Relationships: Waianae Co-operators

Waianae Distribution Network

Spatial Distribution of Seafood: Waianae Source

Case Study: Distribution of Longline Catch

•

Method: Follow Hawaii-based tuna longline trip from beginning to the end point of distribution of all landings

•

Interview captain during trip about operational & marketing decisions; interview 5 additional captains to validate findings

•

Very small % of damaged or less valuable fish, often mahi, is typically consumed during trip, distributed to crew after

•

Japanese markets not as critical in years past given pricing in continental U.S. markets –

MORE TO COME (captain’s

decision-making processes, local patterns of sale, etc.)

Case: Distribution of Longline-Caught Tuna

Some Preliminary Findings•

Various significant differences between harbors

•

Neither network was highly centralized or closely connected

•

Haleiwa: + sales, + spatial distribution, -

localized residence

•

Waianae: + sharing, + localized residence

•

Sharing extensive and culturally significant all-around

•

Distribution decisions highly contingent (catch, species, motivation, $ . .)

•

“Islands-as-fishing-communities”

appears validated

•

But sub-communities (in this case harbors) are important centers of cooperative activity/venues for localized cultural practices

Next Steps and Challenges

•

Work with interview and other data to relate volumes/values to percentages while avoiding confidentiality/proprietary data problems

•

Further analyze data regarding distribution decision-making

•

Further analyze sociocultural

motives for distribution/use of fish

•

Analyze distribution in terms of direct and generalized reciprocity

•

Consider fish flow in terms of household and regional economies

•

Relate data and analysis to real management issues/decisions

Acknowledgements

•

Paul Sensano, Haleiwa Harbormaster

•

William Aila, Waianae Harbormaster

•

Reggie Kokubun, Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources

•

Dave Hamm, NOAA Fisheries, PIFSC

•

Many gracious fishermen, especially Uncle Boy Mark and Norman Swift, and their families