| Description |
Men's Knowledge of The Sea
The ocean has always been a part of our Palauan identity. It sustains our livelihood and provides a setting to learn and transition from a boy into a man. Respect of the ocean is a core value instilled at an early age. Women and small children glean the shallow reefs for sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and clams. Young men go with their fathers and uncles to learn how to fish the reefs, lagoons, channels, and open sea. The elders teach young fishermen about the annual, seasonal, and lunar cycles of the wind, the tide, the currents, animal behavior, and the cues of flowering and fruiting plants to ensure the best harvest. Slowly, they learn the right technique, time, and place, to sustainably harvest certain species. Young fishers learn how to construct, use, and maintain their fishing tools. Fishing families are renown for their skills in handling throw nets, surround nets, hand nets, spears, spear guns, fishing weirs, fish and crab traps, and fishing lines. Fishing enables men to bond with each other and their children through an exchange of valuable knowledge and skills. They share the bounty of a good harvest and bring joy and pride to their clan and the community. |
