Journal article
Consumption of Mollusks and Potential Utilization of Resulting Shell Wastes for Shellcraft within a Pacific Islands Context
Human Ecology, Vol.51, pp.1057-1069
2023
Abstract
Bivalves (Mollusca: Bivalvia) and gastropods (Mollusca: Gastropoda) are a common component of diets in the Pacific Islands region. After consuming the soft tissue of these organisms, their shells are commonly discarded. We consider how such discards, or shell wastes, might serve as a resource for value-adding activities and focus on a case study of shell wastes being utilized for shellcraft in the Tigak Islands of Papua New Guinea. Through an interview-based approach, we investigate the composition and quantities of shell wastes generated by households, the extent these shell wastes are already integrated with shellcraft, and whether continued generation of these shell wastes remains possible. We found consumption of bivalves and gastropods varies among households, in both composition and quantities, such that each household generates unique shell wastes. However, shell wastes are seldom utilized for shellcraft, with substantial variation between the species consumed and the extent their shell wastes are utilized within households (F = 16.2, P < 0.01). For roughly half (n = 15) of all species consumed (n = 31), significant quantities of unutilized shell wastes coincided with positive perceptions of stock status. We argue that integrating shell wastes with shellcraft is a viable pathway to support livelihood enhancement. Our findings in this local context have regional significance in providing useful insights for guiding interventions to assist households better integrate shell wastes with shellcraft.
Details
- Title
- Consumption of Mollusks and Potential Utilization of Resulting Shell Wastes for Shellcraft within a Pacific Islands Context
- Authors
- Nittya S M Simard (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australian Centre for Pacific Islands ResearchThane Militz (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australian Centre for Pacific Islands ResearchJeff Kinch (Author) - National Fisheries AuthorityPaul C Southgate (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research
- Publication details
- Human Ecology, Vol.51, pp.1057-1069
- Publisher
- Springer New York LLC
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10745-023-00457-2
- ISSN
- 1572-9915
- Grant note
- This study was completed as part of a PhD thesis by the lead author, partly funded by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship awarded through the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC). Additional support was obtained from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and the Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authority (NFA) through ACIAR Projects FIS/2014/060 and FIS/2019/122 led by Paul C. Southgate at the UniSC.
- Organisation Unit
- Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99982893902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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