In the landscapes of Tahiti, French Polynesia, is a village called Tautira. Here, we’re offered picturesque views: black sand beaches and a lagoon of turquoise waters. 

Tautira is the house of just over 2,500 residents. It’s often referred to as the “village at the end of the road,” where everyone is like family.  

And the families here continue the tradition of living off the land. They sell their fish, fruits, and vegetables by the roadside. 

Now, in May this year, after four long years, the lagoon in Tautira welcomed back its apex predator. Around 50 local fishers, equipped with fishing lines and spearguns, gathered around at midday.  

They brought coolers filled with their catch: blotcheye soldierfish, parrotfish in shades of blue and green, and unicornfish. Then, for two mornings, they brought in a ton of fish. 

That was a stark contrast compared to just five years ago. Around that time, such a catch in a week would have been considered lucky. 

This turn of events happened because of an ancient Polynesian practice known as rahui. It offers a promising framework for sustainable, community-based solutions in Tahiti’s depleted coastal ecosystems. 

In Polynesia, the term “rahui” encompasses a range of meanings. It can be a management system, a practice, a place, a belief, or a law. It can also mean a lens through which actions are evaluated. 

But basically, in this context, a rahui designates a specific area of land or water with temporary restrictions. The restrictions focus on resource collection, which allows time for the resource to replenish before lifting the restrictions. 

Rahui and the Polynesian 

Rahui runs deep in Polynesian history, taking roots from before the arrival of Europeans in the South Pacific. 

Per Yves Doudoute, a Tahitian cultural expert, Polysenian belief systems have an emphasis on the integral role of humans in the natural environment. 

“For our ancestors, the earth was the first. She was our mother. She was even like a god. So you had to respect her,” Doudoute said. 

This sacred connection to the environment is deeply entrenched into Polynesian legends. For instance, the Earth is represented by deities like Papatūānuku (earth mother) and Ranginui (sky father). They both are considered ancestors to all living things.  

Here, people believed that good leaders had mana (divine power). With it, they had the authority to create rahui to manage resources. 

 

 

In the past, chiefs sought the approval and collaboration of the community. Rahui is a form of conservation, yes, but it also serves other purposes that might be more important. 

Boosting political power, strengthening community relationships, and reaffirming religious rituals are among those purposes. 

As mentioned, rahui is a system that is adaptable to different communities, and it performs a wide variety of functions. 

Now, rahui was somewhat forgotten for a while. But in modern times, there’s a resurgence of rahui.  

For example, Tautira initiated one in 2019. This rahui demonstrates the potential of culturally sensitive conservation efforts by engaging local communities for lasting impact. 

A 2019 study revealed that 90% of French Polynesians support the establishment of rahui. This number surpassed the backing for other legal conservation methods like protected marine areas. 

Modern rahui 

The first modern rahui in French Polynesia began in Rapa. It’s an isolated island with limited access and a population of around 500 people.  

In the early 1980s, locals noticed a decline in fish numbers and size. The decline was caused by changing fishing methods and technological advancements. 

Former Rapa mayor Lionel Watanabe visited anauma Bay Nature Preserve in Hawaii. During the visit, Watanabe aimed to implement a similar conservation area in Rapa. 

Watanabe wanted to resurrect the old system of rahui, but with a modern twist. 

Despite knowing that fish numbers had declined, some local fishers didn’t welcome this idea and pushed back. They argued against it due to a worry that the rahui might affect their livelihoods. 

Everyone had their own views and methods to address the problem. This led to a lot of hours of community meetings and compromises. 

Nonetheless, an agreement was made, and a coastal rahui was implemented in 1984 in island’s biggest bay, Ahurei. 

 

 

The whole bay then became a closed zone.  

Here, spearfishing and night fishing were banned but line and harpoon fishing were permitted. According to the people of Rapa, the latter two techniques were considered more sustainable. 

Furthermore, the community didn’t allow net fishing and cage trapping of lobsters everywhere including in the zones of fewer restrictions. 

The coastal rahui was temporarily lifted in 1986. It was a great success—the locals saw a significant increase in fish and lobster numbers. 

Today, the Rapa rahui remains in place, with spearfishing restrictions lifted temporarily once or twice a year. 

Then, the rahui also happened in Teahupoo, Tahiti. Researchers who came noticed a substantial increase in biomass within the rahui zone within a few years. The average fish biomass was eight to ten times higher than outside the rahui. 

The hit and miss 

Some areas that implemented the rahui have seen good success, like Tahupoo.  

However, researchers pointed out that many rahui in the Pacific fail. The main cause is a lack of proper planning. 

Some rahui has even resulted in a notable decrease in fish biomass after it’s lifted. The fish do increase at first, but then fishermen overfish them. 

So, what should happen? How can we implement a successful rahui in this day and age? 

Researcher and expert in marine conservation Laure Vaitiare André said that the key lies in community involvement.  

In Tautira, Rapa, and Teahupoo, community members actively participate in maintaining and enforcing rahui rules.  

Surveillance efforts also involve community members. They have been keeping an eye out for rule violations, giving a sense of shared responsibility. 

Moreover, scientific monitoring complements such community efforts. Researchers who study biological parameters of fish species may share results with fishers and management committees.  

In Tautira, for example, the rahui management committee devised a unique plan with three zones. The plan involved a hybrid approach to marine management that combines local wisdom with modern scientific methods. 

This blend of tradition and science may lead to success. “In this way, traditions can reinvent themselves to better meet the challenges of tomorrow,” André said. 

 

 

Embracing old traditions in the current days 

Polynesians respect the rahui, particularly in the spiritual context. 

They often engage in prayers and ceremonies before fishing, underscoring the cultural significance of these practices. 

They also pass down stories through generations, like the myth from the island of Raiatea. 

In this story, two friends angered the god of the ocean, Ruahatu, by fishing in the wrong spot. Because they broke a rahui, the god flooded the island in vengeance. 

The myth serves as warnings and reinforces deep respect Polynesians hold for institutions like rahui. 

Recognizing the legitimacy and effectiveness of rahui, French Polynesia has granted legal protection to the Teahupoo rahui since 2016.  

Moreover, since 2017, rahui have been officially recognized as conservation systems, provided they adhere to state laws and regulations.  

Some rahui collaborate with government-regulated fishing zones. This signifies the increasing acknowledgment of rahui as a valuable tool for preserving coastal ecosystems. 

Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu, the minister of culture, environment, and marine resources in French Polynesia, advocates for listening to the wisdom of elders. 

Maamaatuaiahutapu acknowledges the resilience and survival skills inherent in Polynesian solutions developed over thousands of years. Such skills are getting more important to tackle issues like overfishing, marine pollution, and climate change. 

Rahui is a case where the old meets new in a nice way.  

Given the right planning and community involvement, it can serve as a guide for other communities around the world. It also shows that one doesn’t have to find modern solutions all the time to combat environmental issues. 

Hopefully, in the future, researchers can help make the rahui more widely known. Therefore, other communities can learn from Polynesians, and we can help our planet more sustainably. 

 

Source

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/rahui-and-the-art-of-marine-conservation-180983179/