The Ecological and Political Dimensions of Local Knowledge Among Small-Scale Fishers in Moorea, French Polynesi

Understanding how and why local knowledge undergoes change is vital for communities that hope to foster effective marine resource management initiatives. However, most studies tend to concentrate exclusively on the ecological dimensions of local knowledge at the expense of other domains such as those associated with political or cultural identity. This thesis quantitatively evaluates the local knowledge of small-scale fishers in Moorea, French Polynesia, using distinct metrics in order to assess two of its domains, local ecological knowledge and local political knowledge. To gauge ecological knowledge, the results of a lagoon fish habitat ranking exercise completed by fishers (n=56) are compared with data from commonly cited marine science literature. Individual variation in political knowledge is measured by assessing fishers' (n=94) familiarity with a Moorean lunar calendar, known as a tarena, which is an important symbol of Polynesian identity and resistance to French colonialism. Results indicate that ecological knowledge is negatively associated with level of income. Familiarity with the tarena is negatively associated with increased exposure to formal education and positively associated with selective spearfishing. Women also tend to have more familiarity with the calendar than men. These findings contribute to our understanding of the socio-cultural, economic, political, and environmental influences on local knowledge, while also underscoring the importance of employing varied metrics and conceptualizing knowledge as a dynamic social process rather than just a compendium of information. More broadly, this study can orient local community groups towards potential pathways to nurture the continuation of sustainable fishing practices and coral reef fishery management strategies.