Ethnoecology and Tokelauan fishing lore from Atafu atoll, Tokelau|Local perceptions of sea turtles on Bora Bora and Maupiti islands, French Polynesia

Abstract

Marine exploitation has various cultural implications. In this paper we discuss Tokelauan fishing lore, focusing on fishing practices, technologies and materials, and relate these to fish ecology. We examine the Tokelauan classification of the marine ecosystem and the ethnoecology of fish and molluscs, particularly focusing on Tokelauan folk taxonomy and ecological knowledge related to the behaviour of fish and other marine life.|In many Pacific Island cultures, sea turtles are key figures that symbolise longevity, peace and strength. Nevertheless, their existence is now under threat. The qualitative research described in this article was undertaken on the French Polynesian islands of Bora Bora and Maupiti (see Figs. 1 and 2) to inventory local perceptions regarding sea turtles, and to better understand the relationship between them and humans. The information gathered provides a better understanding and assessment of the cultural heritage of sea turtles in French Polynesia. Special emphasis was placed on understanding the perceptions of children and their potential role as “ambassadors of the environment’’.