SOME ASPECTS OF FISHERIES PROBLEMS IN THE 

 SOUTH PACIFIC AREA 



By A. H. J. Kroon 



Economic Development, South Pacific Commission 

 Nouviea, New Caledonia 



Fish plays an important role in the life of most inhabitants of the 

 South Pacific area. It is their main source of protein. The Fisheries 

 Conference held in 1952 at Noumea under the auspices of the South 

 Pacific Commission stressed the importance of fish in the diet and 

 pointed out that as land animal protein is not a regular item in the 

 diet of the peoples of the region and as in most territories, social and 

 economic factors limit the possibility of an early or rapid expansion 

 of protein food supplies from livestock, fish is the most accessible and 

 also the cheapest source of animal protein. 



In Melanesia, the present consumption of fish is on a lower scale 

 than in Micronesia and Polynesia, where the consumption of fish and 

 other marine products (algae, molluscs and Crustacea) seems rather 

 high, though accurate data are not yet available. 



A part of the population of the region, and even a great part, are 

 not in a position to obtain fish easily. I am mainly thinking here of the 

 impression that there are great untapped resources available. It is felt 

 of the other islands fish production is often insufficient to cover the 

 needs of the population, chiefly due to seasonal influences. 



The enormous acreage of the South Pacific Ocean leads to the 

 impression that there are great untapped resources available. It is felt 

 that the Pacific Ocean is a region where enormous quantities of valuable 

 food are produced, and that we have to do with the problem of the 

 "untaken crop." One may ask if the untaken crop problems such as 

 those in the field of fisheries, sago production, timber production and 

 so on, are not somewhat over-emphasized in modern times. The un- 

 taken crops in the world can only contribute to economic development 

 in as far as the harvesting is within economic possibilities. 



Though there are still vast acreages of forests in the world, their 

 exploitation is often impracticable for economic reasons. There are a 

 number of rubber producing plants in nature, but their harvesting is 

 not practical, as it is cheaper to leave those resources "unharvested" 

 and to grow hevea rubber. 



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