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Field mission · April–May 2025 Field mission in Reao: exploring the values of lagoon resources in French Polynesia |
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Chann, a student in agro-development at ISTOM, carried out a field mission in Reao, French Polynesia, from 10 April to 8 May 2025. This work is part of her internship at CRIOBE, which began on 24 February 2025 and is scheduled to continue until 22 August 2025, as part of the MaHeWa project. Supervised by two anthropologists, Jean Wencélius and Catherine Sabinot, Chann is exploring both the material (such as income and food) and immaterial (such as culture and identity) values of lagoon resources. She is also documenting community memory related to marine heatwaves and assessing their impacts on Polynesian lifestyles. Her next mission is planned for Takaroa, from 4 June to 9 July 2025.
In Reao, Chann implemented a rigorous methodological protocol inspired by various research approaches. She conducted 27 interviews with 32 participants — including fishers and aquaculture workers, both men and women — to explore their daily activities, the values associated with resources, and perceived environmental changes. She also participated in clam and shellfish fishing and accompanied the Marine Resources Directorate (DRM) during their clam stock monitoring. A laminated photo of the atoll was used to map areas of interest with lagoon users, and two free-listing exercises focused on lagoon and reef-flat resources. The sampling strategy, stratified by gender, age, and fishing types, combined targeted (via recommendations), opportunistic, and snowball methods.
Initial findings Chann’s initial findings reveal striking local dynamics. The Marine Resources Directorate features prominently in discussions — not only regarding clam stock monitoring or regulations on protected areas (such as clam quotas and the ban on octopus trade), but also in how people interpret environmental changes and their causes. Respondents report both a noticeable decline in target species and an increase in algal growth, as well as the “return” of certain species such as trevallies. Multi-activity livelihoods are nearly universal, with each person typically involved in at least three activities. Marine heatwaves, for example, speed up copra drying times, boosting production, while clam bleaching linked to heatwaves remains vivid in local memory. Meanwhile, younger generations are increasingly turning away from lagoon activities, drawn instead to the internet, television, and changing food preferences. Strong swells and prolonged low tides are also impacting both copra cultivation and housing. Chann is now preparing her fieldwork in Takaroa to deepen her study. Her findings will contribute to the upcoming annual MaHeWa meeting in Papeete at the end of August 2025, where she will present her thesis! |
