FISH is an integral part of the livelihood in many coastal communities, particularly among small islands and atolls communities. It is no different to the Bali and Vitu islanders; the two together constitutes the Bali-Vitu LLG in the Talasia district, West New Britain province. For the islanders, fishing and fish is of significant both culturally and economically; forms a major part of their food system and also an important source of income, apart from copra which is the main income earner for the islanders. And fish is part of their every day food, as they say it ‘have fish anytime you feel like’. Should you prepare not go out fishing yourself, no worries, it is also cheap. Much cheaper than you may have seen or heard off anywhere. Price of fish can go as low as fifty toea (0.50t) for fresh and one kina (K1.00) for smoked. I mean average size fish, equivalent to those that have a price tag of say K20.00 minimum at say Koki Fish Market. And if you choose to, you can have fish for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and anytime in between.
Our team that visited the islands from the 9 – 14 June 2021 to undertaken the final assessment and evaluation survey of the EUCCR project had the opportunity to go out fishing on Saturday (13th June) evening upon on our return from visits to Vituhu village (Vitu) and Makiri village (Bali). And we did not come back empty handed, as the picture indicates; we were able catch enough for dinner and a little more.
