Historical relationships & environmental histories
This project seeks to develop a critical and historical understanding of human dimensions of fisheries and aquaculture.
Understanding the way in which human relationships have developed between fisheries and aquaculture is of value in itself, but also aids in understanding and anticipating the response of people to change.
The findings also potentially contribute to current policy and planning, and can provide opportunities for developing heritage tourism.
Current specific project foci
Why not fish? Social constructions of fishing in the development and environmental history of New Zealand
Key researchers – Dr Roy Montgomery, Dr Greg Ryan (all Lincoln University).
New Zealand’s fisheries management regime is best known for the implementation of the quota management system and the settlement of Māori claims to fisheries, aquaculture, foreshore and seabed. In the process, the extent to which Pakeha (non-Māori New Zealanders) might have claims to fisheries customs and traditions has been raised and incorporated into the settlement process. However, this has drawn attention to the paucity of historical analysis of non-Māori fishing. The research aim is to explore the nature of the colonial settler society with fisheries, and in particular to understand the extent to which social constructions and engagement with fishing may have influenced its development. The current focus is on Canterbury in the early settlement period (1850-1875). This provides an interesting case study because the development of commercial fishing, in particular, appears to have been strangely invisible and relatively tardy. By understanding the role of culture and social constructions and mechanisms of engagement with fishing we seek to shed light on their ongoing influence and role in fisheries policy. In the process we shed light on aspects of New Zealand’s history and past environments more generally. Future research interests include extending the period through to the modern era, with a particular interest in the role of fishing clubs, fishing tourism and gender.
The roles of planning, people, policy and science in the spatial development of aquaculture.
Key researchers – Dr Hamish Rennie and Dr Roy Montgomery.
The initial focus of this research was the modern era of marine aquaculture and its spatial development over the period since 1960. That research identified that claims of the importance of secure property rights and science played a relatively small role in the development of aquaculture. The process of obtaining space and the role of plans, policies and individuals were much more significant.
The current research seeks to extend the research into the pre-1960 period, and into freshwater aquaculture. This includes the social construction and appropriation of the name of farmed salmon, an exotic species. The nature of individuals and the planning challenges they face(d) is of particular interest and Matt McKenna is investigating the development of indigenous freshwater crayfish (koura) aquaculture in the South Island in this context.