The Historical Role of Bonefishes (Albula spp.) in Polynesian Fisheries

Abstract

This paper is a tribute to Yosi Sinoto, a pioneer in the study of indigenous Polynesian fishing technologies and East Polynesian prehistory. It builds on his research by considering the historical role of bonefishes (Albula spp., family Albulidae) across Polynesia. Bonefishes are relatively large, schooling, nearshore species which, on several grounds, constitute high-return resources as defined by foraging models, especially in relation to Polynesian fishing technologies. Ecological, life history, and sportfishing data is compiled in support of this claim, while their role in indigenous fisheries is assessed with linguistic, ethnographic, and archaeological evidence. The latter shows that, despite being naturally distributed across the region, and recognized by a common Polynesian referent (kiokio or a close cognate), only two Polynesian localities (Cook and Hawaiian Islands) provide unambiguous historical evidence for well-developed Albula fisheries; their historical importance also is suggested on Tubuai (Austral Islands) where they have declined. In Tokelau and in the Tuamotu Islands they play a modest role in contemporary fisheries, while the evidence compiled here suggests more incidental use elsewhere in Polynesia. Three hypotheses are examined to explain the disjunction between the highreturn potentials of bonefishes and the available evidence for their traditional importance: 1) ethnographic and archaeological preservation and/or collection biases are factors; 2) bonefishing was once more widely practiced but has declined as a result of harvesting pressures, climate change, or other processes; and/or 3) geographic variability in conditions favoring bonefish abundance (e.g., habitat, food sources) have led to a discontinuous and uneven pattern of cultural use across Polynesia. The available evidence suggests that all three factors may be relevant.