Have You Ever Heard of a Fish Bank? | Our Planet Earth | BBC Earth

Summary

The Kuruwitu Marine Sanctuary, a haven for marine life and its community, faced a severe decline in fish stocks in the late 1900s due to overfishing. The community implemented the tengefu system, banning fishing to allow for rehabilitation, which saw a 400% increase in fish biomass in the first decade. Despite climate change challenges like ocean acidification and rising sea temperatures, the sanctuary's protection is crucial for sustaining marine life and ensuring the community's livelihood. Ledama Masidza embodies the spirit of ubuntu, advocating for a collaborative and caring approach to preserve the environment and secure a bright future.

Takeaways

• 🏖️ Ledama Masidza expresses deep affection for Kuruwitu, highlighting its importance to her and the marine life it supports.
• 🐟 The Kuruwitu Marine Sanctuary is a source of happiness for Ledama, who finds joy in swimming and appreciating the underwater life.
• 🌊 The community of Kuruwitu has demonstrated resilience in the face of environmental challenges, particularly the decline in fish stock in the late 1900s.
• 🚫 'No fish, no village' reflects the community's reliance on fish for their livelihoods, which was threatened by overfishing.
• 🔄 In response to the decline in fish stock, the community implemented the tengefu system, a traditional resource management approach.
• 🚫 Fishing has been banned within the Kuruwitu Conservancy since 2003 to protect and replenish fish stocks and restore corals.
• 📈 The biomass of fish in the protected area increased by 400% in the first 10 years, showcasing the success of the conservation efforts.
• 🐠 The sanctuary acts as a 'fish bank', allowing fish to grow to capacity and then spill over into surrounding areas, benefiting other fishing grounds.
• 🌡️ Climate change, including ocean acidification and rising sea temperatures, poses new threats to the marine ecosystem of Kuruwitu.
• 🌐 The El Niño climate cycle, known for its global impact, could exacerbate the pressures on Kuruwitu's marine life, as experienced in the 2016 event.
• 🌳 Protected areas like the Kuruwitu Conservancy are crucial for providing sheltered grounds for juvenile fish and restoring coral reefs, which are vital for marine biodiversity.
• 🔑 The decision to stop fishing in the conservancy may have short-term costs, but it is a long-term investment in the community's livelihoods and the health of the planet.
• 🤝 Ledama hopes for a future based on ubuntu, a philosophy of caring for others and embracing interconnectedness, as a way to collaboratively address global environmental challenges.

Q & A

What does Ledama Masidza consider Kuruwitu to be for her?

Ledama Masidza considers Kuruwitu to be a home not only to her but also to the life in the water, which she loves the most, and swimming in the Kuruwitu Marine Sanctuary brings her happiness.

How did the community of Kuruwitu respond to the decline in fish stock in the late 1900s?

The community of Kuruwitu came together to find a solution to the decline in fish stock, which affected livelihoods, food insecurity, household income, and future generations.

What is the tengefu system mentioned in the script?

The tengefu system is a traditional form of resource management where the community decides to allocate a portion of their marinescape and fishery for rehabilitation to bounce back and support the livelihoods.

What measures were taken to protect and replenish fish stocks in the Kuruwitu Conservancy?

Fishing has been completely banned within the Kuruwitu Conservancy since its establishment in 2003, and efforts have been made to restore corals within the lagoon.

What was the impact of the protection measures on the fish biomass in the first 10 years?

In the first 10 years after the establishment of the conservancy, the biomass of fish inside the protected area increased by 400%.

How does Ledama describe the Kuruwitu Marine Sanctuary in terms of its function for fish?

Ledama describes the Kuruwitu Marine Sanctuary as a 'fish bank' that allows the density of fish to grow to its capacity, and then the fish spill over into surrounding areas, providing fish to other fishing grounds.

What are the new pressures that the fish in Kuruwitu are facing beyond the control of the community?

The fish in Kuruwitu are facing pressures such as ocean acidification impacting coral reefs, an increase in sea temperature, and changes in ecosystem conditions due to climate change.

What is the significance of the El Niño climate cycle for Kuruwitu and the surrounding areas?

The El Niño climate cycle can amplify the pressures already being felt in Kuruwitu and beyond by impacting ocean temperatures, currents, and local weather from Australia to South America.

How does the script suggest that protected areas like the Kuruwitu Conservancy are important for marine life?

Protected areas like the Kuruwitu Conservancy are important as they can create sheltered nursery grounds for juvenile fish, spread out to populate surrounding waters, and restoring corals provides a vital lifeline for marine species that rely on reefs.

What is the short-term cost and long-term benefit for the local community in the decision to stop fishing in Kuruwitu Conservancy?

The short-term cost is the immediate impact on the local community's livelihoods, while the long-term benefit is securing their livelihoods for the future in the face of the planet's changing climate.

What is the concept of ubuntu as mentioned by Ledama, and how does it relate to the future of the planet?

Ubuntu is a concept important to Ledama's upbringing, which means care for others and embracing interconnectedness in a shared future. It suggests that a more collaborative, caring, and kind approach to the ocean and each other can lead to a beautiful world.

Outlines

00:00

🐠 Kuruwitu Marine Sanctuary: A Haven for Life and Resilience

Ledama Masidza expresses her deep affection for Kuruwitu, a place she considers home to both herself and the marine life she cherishes. The script describes the Kuruwitu Marine Sanctuary as a source of joy and a vibrant community that has shown remarkable resilience in the face of environmental challenges. In the late 1900s, the community faced a severe decline in fish stocks due to overfishing, which affected livelihoods and food security. To combat this, they implemented the tengefu system, a traditional resource management approach that led to the establishment of the Kuruwitu Conservancy in 2003. This conservancy has seen a 400% increase in fish biomass in its first decade, thanks to a fishing ban and coral restoration efforts. The sanctuary acts as a 'fish bank,' allowing fish to spill over into surrounding areas, providing a sustainable source of fish for the community. However, external threats such as ocean acidification and climate change pose significant challenges, prompting questions about the community's ability to manage these pressures while maintaining the conservancy's ban on fishing.

05:03

🌍 Climate Impacts and the Future of Kuruwitu

The script highlights the broader environmental challenges faced by Kuruwitu, including the effects of El Niño events, which can exacerbate existing pressures on the marine ecosystem. The 2016 El Niño had widespread impacts, affecting millions of people globally. The community is aware of these global changes and understands the importance of the conservancy in protecting marine life. The conservancy serves as a nursery for juvenile fish and a lifeline for marine species reliant on coral reefs. Despite the short-term costs of the fishing ban, it is seen as a crucial step in securing the community's future livelihoods amid climate change. Ledama expresses optimism for the future, rooted in the concept of ubuntu, which emphasizes care for others and interconnectedness. She believes that a collaborative and caring approach to both the ocean and each other can lead to a beautiful world, and Kuruwitu aims to share its knowledge and approach with neighboring communities.

Keywords

💡Kuruwitu

Kuruwitu refers to a specific location, likely a coastal area or village, that is central to the video's narrative. It is described as a 'home' to both the narrator and the marine life in the area, indicating its significance as a habitat and a community. The script mentions Kuruwitu Marine Sanctuary, suggesting it is a protected area for marine life, which is a key aspect of the video's theme of environmental conservation and community resilience.

💡Marine Sanctuary

A marine sanctuary is a designated area of water where human activities are restricted to protect marine life and habitats. In the context of the video, the Kuruwitu Marine Sanctuary is a place where swimming brings happiness and is also a critical part of the community's efforts to conserve fish stocks and coral reefs. The sanctuary plays a vital role in the video's message about the importance of marine conservation for both ecological health and human well-being.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties or to adapt to change. The script highlights the resilience of the Kuruwitu community in the face of environmental challenges, such as the decline in fish stocks. Their resilience is demonstrated through their proactive measures to manage resources and adapt to new conditions, which is a central theme of the video showing the community's strength and adaptability.

💡Overfishing

Overfishing is the act of catching fish at a rate faster than they can reproduce, leading to a decrease in fish populations. The script mentions that overfishing in the late 1900s caused a serious decline in fish stock in Kuruwitu, affecting livelihoods and food security. This term is crucial to understanding the challenges faced by the community and the subsequent actions they took to address the issue.

💡Tengefu System

The tengefu system is a traditional form of resource management mentioned in the script. It involves the community deciding to allocate a portion of their marine environment for rehabilitation, allowing it to recover and support livelihoods. This concept is integral to the video's narrative as it showcases a community-based approach to environmental conservation and sustainable resource use.

💡Biosphere

The term 'biosphere' refers to the global sum of all ecosystems, including all living beings and their interactions with the elements of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. In the script, the increase in fish biomass within the protected area by 400% illustrates the effectiveness of the biosphere's natural processes in restoring balance when given the chance, which is a key point in the video's argument for conservation.

💡Fish Bank

A 'fish bank' is a metaphor used in the script to describe the sanctuary's role in protecting fish, allowing their numbers to increase to capacity, and then 'spilling over' into surrounding areas. This concept is central to the video's theme of sustainable resource management, emphasizing the idea that protecting a portion of a resource can benefit the whole ecosystem.

💡Ocean Acidification

Ocean acidification is a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period, primarily caused by its uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The script mentions this as one of the pressures facing the fish and coral reefs in Kuruwitu, illustrating the broader environmental challenges that are impacting marine life and the community's efforts to protect it.

💡El Niño

El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean, which affects weather patterns globally. The script refers to the beginning of a climate cycle in 2023 that could amplify existing pressures on Kuruwitu, highlighting the interconnectedness of global climate phenomena and local ecosystems.

💡Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a Nguni Bantu term often translated as 'humanity' or 'interconnectedness'. In the script, the narrator expresses hope for the future based on the concept of ubuntu, emphasizing the importance of caring for others and embracing our shared future. This term encapsulates the video's message about the need for a collaborative and caring approach to environmental conservation and community well-being.

💡Coral Restoration

Coral restoration refers to the process of helping damaged coral reefs recover and thrive. The script mentions the work done to restore corals within the lagoon, which is crucial for the survival of marine species that depend on reefs. This concept is a key part of the video's narrative on the importance of active conservation efforts to protect marine ecosystems.

Highlights

Ledama Masidza expresses deep love for Kuruwitu and its marine life.

The Kuruwitu community faced a serious decline in fish stock in the late 1900s, impacting livelihoods and food security.

Overfishing was identified as the main cause of the fall in fish stocks.

The community implemented the tengefu system, a traditional resource management approach, to address the decline.

The Kuruwitu Conservancy was established in 2003 with a complete ban on fishing to protect and replenish fish stocks.

In the first 10 years, fish biomass in the protected area increased by 400%.

The sanctuary acts as a 'fish bank', with fish spilling over into surrounding areas.

Climate change and El Niño events pose significant threats to marine life beyond the community's control.

The 2016 El Niño event impacted the lives of 60 million people globally.

Global changes are driving threats to marine life, emphasizing the importance of the conservancy's protection.

Protected areas provide nursery grounds for juvenile fish and a lifeline for marine species reliant on reefs.

The decision to stop fishing in Kuruwitu may have short-term costs but secures long-term livelihoods in the face of climate change.

Kuruwitu aims to share its knowledge and approach with neighboring fishing communities.

Ledama's hope for the planet's future is rooted in ubuntu, a concept of care for others and interconnectedness.

A collaborative, caring, and kind approach to the ocean and each other is believed to lead to a beautiful world.

Transcripts

[Ledama Masidza] I love Kuruwitu.

It's a home not only to me, but also the things I love most,

which is the life in the water.

When I when I swim around the Kuruwitu Marine Sanctuary,

every single moment is just happiness.

It's also home to such a vibrant, loving community,

which has shown so much resilience to the changes that we are currently seeing.

There is a saying – "No fish, no village."

In the late 1900s,

this community experienced a serious decline in its fish stock.

We saw a decline in livelihoods

affecting not only food insecurity, household income,

but also future generations and the opportunities that they had.

[Narrator] This fall in fish stocks was driven by overfishing.

In response to their losses,

the community came together to find a solution.

[Ledama] This solution was based on a traditional form

of resource management called the tengefu system.

It’s where the community themselves decide

to allocate a portion of their marinescape and their fishery

to see it be rehabilitated

and have that bounce back to influence the livelihoods that it supports.

[Narrator] To protect and replenish fish stocks,

fishing has been completely banned within the Kuruwitu Conservancy

since it was established in 2003,

and work has since been done to restore corals within the lagoon.

In the first 10 years,

the biomass of fish inside the protected area increased by 400%.

[Ledama] This is essentially a fish bank.

By protecting the fish in the sanctuary

and allowing the density of fish to grow to its capacity,

the fish then spill over into the surrounding areas,

providing fish to other fishing grounds.

[Narrator] But outside of the sheltered waters of the lagoon,

the fish face threats that are well beyond the control of Kuruwitu's community.

[Ledama] The pressures that our fish are now facing are tenfold.

You've got ocean acidification, which is impacting the coral reefs.

You've got an increase in sea temperature

and a change in ecosystem conditions due to climate change.

[Narrator] This is driving some to question whether the

community can cope with both the ban on fishing within the conservancy

and the changes that are now happening in the surrounding fishing grounds.

[Narrator] In 2023,

a climate cycle began which could amplify the pressures

already being felt in Kuruwitu and beyond.

During El Niño events,

warming surface waters impact ocean temperatures and currents,

as well as local weather from Australia to South America.

The last El Niño event, in 2016,

impacted the lives of 60 million people across our planet.

It is a phenomenon

that the local community in Kuruwitu know all too well.

[Narrator] The threats to this area

are now being driven by changes at a global scale,

which are impacting marine life across our planet.

This makes the protection that the conservancy offers

even more important.

Protected areas can create sheltered nursery grounds for juvenile fish,

which spread out and populate the surrounding waters.

And restoring coral provides a vital lifeline

for the 25% of all marine species

that are thought to rely on reefs at some point in their life cycle.

The decision to stop fishing in Kuruwitu Conservancy

might come at a short-term cost to the local community,

but it will help to secure their livelihoods for the future

in the face of our planet's changing climate.

[Ledama] The future is bright

and Kuruwitu are looking to share this knowledge

and spread this approach with their neighbouring fishing communities.

My hopes for the future of the planet

is rooted in a concept very important to my upbringing,

and that is ubuntu,

which is care for others,

embracing this interconnectedness in a shared future.

If we can all take a more collaborative approach,

a more caring approach, a more kind approach,

not just to our ocean but to each other,

I believe that we'll have a beautiful world.