Mārara te Tai: Towards a Miti‘āro Marine Ecology

Abstract

This article investigates fishing-related concepts and practices of the people of Miti‘āro, a remote island in the Cook Islands nation in the South Pacific. Trained as a marine biologist specialising in coastal fisheries research, I extended beyond the boundaries of my professional scientific “trade” to investigate and appreciate the elements that can shape an island’s coastal fishery and how the ocean can shape its people. In this case study, which was part of a much larger scientific study, I lived on Miti‘āro for over 18 months as an embedded researcher observing daily life and conducting conversational interviews with 13 local fishing experts. This article draws on all my sources—my own experiences and observations, the interview data and the literature—to introduce the Miti‘āro community and some of the concepts and practices associated with local marine ecology. This includes subtle reflections that centre the Miti‘āro pedagogy, highlighting stories of fishing practices, beliefs and previously uncaptured observations since times past. As one of the most detailed accounts to date, this article introduces the ocean and its critical role in Miti‘āro culture, history and evolving lifestyle. Through a unique insider–outsider perspective, I provide an overview of local knowledge about how marine resources are managed and exploited in Miti‘āro, as a basic Indigenous account of marine ecology through a Miti‘āro worldview and philosophy.