Huei-Min TSAI, Graduate Institute of Environmental Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan
Ranpogan SYAMAN, Island Indigenous Science Studio , Taiwan
Orchid Island is a 47 sq. km small Pacific island located 90 km away from Taiwan’s southeast coast and is the home of Oceanic People Tao. The island is also named “Pongso no Tao” (the Island of People) by Tao People. The Tao settled in patches of alluvial plains scattered along the coast and distributed as six communities. Each tribal community has its communal customary marine tenure and shared fishing grounds. Every year, libangbang (flying fish) migrate to the island along with the Kuroshio Current, which became the core part of the Tao People’s culture. The seasonal arrival of flying fish determines Tao’s daily life rhythm, seasons, ecological calendars, rituals, and ceremonies. These seasonal rituals developed as Indigenous knowledge systems, including fishery species and ecosystem, management practices, social organizations, and world views. The rituals as if guidance for Tao people to make time-space relational arrangements and use natural resources sustainably; so that to protect marine resources.
However, in recent decades the marine resources have declined due to threats of commercial fishing boats from other counties of big island Taiwan. This paper presents the struggles of islanders to claim back the rights of their customary marine tenure and communal fishing boundary. The historical evidence on this study indicates that Indigenous fishery knowledge, traditional customary laws, relevant regulations, flying fish seasonal rituals, and tribal conventions have maintained the sustainability of the ocean resources and the livelihood of islanders. This study also points out that the continuity of traditional communal marine tenure is the keystone for island humanities and sustainability. It is also critically important for Tao people of all generations to protect their home island, as the ancestors name “the Island of People,” and keep their indignity as Oceanic Peoples who steward their ocean towards sustainable futures.
Mots clés : Orchid Island|Indigenous fisheries knowledge|customary marine tenue|flying fish|sustainability
A103906HT