Enhancing coastal livelihoods through half-pearl aquaculture and handicrafts in Tonga and Fiji

ABSTRACT

The recent development of mabé (half-pearl) aquaculture has enabled new livelihood opportunities for remote coastal communities and peri-urban areas of Fiji and Tonga. This article explores how specific mabé projects have provided socio-economic benefits to individuals and groups engaged in mabé aquaculture and handicraft production and considers how these benefits contribute towards women’s empowerment. We examine both the economic dimensions of empowerment as well as more intangible aspects of agency. While mabé aquaculture and the production of mother-of-pearl handicrafts in Fiji and Tonga is currently limited by market constraints and is reliant on government and donor support, women and men can earn supplementary incomes that are important for supporting diverse rural livelihoods in a manner that is culturally compatible and rewarding. Importantly, social and cultural aspects of these initiatives enabled many women to think differently about themselves, their capabilities, and their aspirations for the future.

KEYWORDS:

• Livelihoods
• half-pearl
• handicrafts
• women
• socio-economic
• income
• empowerment

Acknowledgements

We thank the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) for commissioning the research and village communities who shared their experience and insights as mabé farmers and mother-of-pearl handicraft makers in Fiji and Tonga. We thank the Ministries of Fisheries and ACIAR project teams FIS/2014/060 and FIS/2016/126 in both Tonga and Fiji for their cooperation and assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research: [Grant Number FIS/2018/129].

Notes on contributors

Katja Mikhailovich

Dr. Katja Mikhailovich is an academic and consultant with experience in applied social research and monitoring and evaluation. She is currently an independent consultant working with consulting firm Sustineo and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Canberra’s Centre for Sustainable Communities. Her particular interest and expertise are in assessing program impacts on communities and the integration of gender perspectives in research.

Ellis Mackenzie

Ellis Mackenzie is a consultant at Sustineo, where he has experience in applied social research and evaluation. His research expertise and interests are concerned with rural development issues in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, including on the topics of land governance, Indigenous natural resource management, and climate adaptation.

Douglas Smith

Douglas Smith is a review and evaluation consultant within a range of sectors including education, health, agriculture, public administration, and social services.