This project which has been funded by GCRF, GNCA and FIF focussed on the use and management of marine resources in three Pacific island countries: Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.  All of these countries have plural legal systems. ‘Plural legal systems’ are those where there are multiple sources of law (both state and non-state) within the same geographical area. The three countries under consideration all came under the influence of the Common Law as a result of British colonial administration. They also retained a great deal of traditional, customary law, which is largely unwritten and determined by local leaders/chiefs in communities. When they became independent sovereign states both sources of law were retained and continue to be relevant.

This legal pluralism is particularly important in the context of access to and the management of marine resources, because it is increasingly being recognised that traditional indigenous knowledge and customary forms of access-regulation need to be taken into account in developing sustainable practices. However, in ascertaining what the customary law is, in patriarchal societies it is usually men who are consulted, and it is men who determine the ways in which resources are controlled. The aim of this research was to address this gender imbalance by listening to women’s voices through undertaking in country field studies at two sites for each country.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which was adopted by all the United Nations Members States aims ‘to leave no-one behind’ in achieving peace and prosperity for all. Included in the sustainable Development Goals are eradicating hunger, achieving gender equality and conserving marine resources for sustainable development. This project focussed on Sustainable Development Goals 2, 5, 14 and 17. The field work in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu showed that marine life is important for supporting the lives of women and for food security. It also showed how important it is to listen to women. Not only to address issues of gender inequality in making laws and policies to regulate the use of life in the ocean and reef, but also because women have valuable experiences which they are willing to share.

Acknowledgements and thanks

We would like to thank all of the women who shared their stories, the communities and their leaders who agreed to the field work and hosted the field workers in their villages, and our fieldworkers Polly Walker Dorras assisted by Frances Izono and Ruthie Rarua in Vanuatu; Lysa Wini, Jacob Wale Piturara and Regina Lepping in Solomon Islands;  Renata and Rufino Varea and Unaisi Narawa Daurewa in Fiji. In the second phase of the research the project was assisted by Fiona Meke and Kezyiah Saepioh of the National University of the Solomon Islands. Research assistance in writing up field work notes was provided by Newcastle Law students Samantha Johnstone and Georgia Black with funding from Newcastle Law School.

Initial fieldwork was funded by a grant from the UK AHRC GCRF Network Fund (AH/T008385/T). Further fieldwork in Fiji was funded by a Newcastle University GNCA grant, which also funded pathways to impact events and visits. Additional funding was secured from the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty Impact Fund. The project was led by Professor Sue Farran (Newcastle University) (PI) assisted by Professor Emerita Jennifer Corrin (The University of Queensland) (Co-I). Professional support was provided by Helen Hampson.

The initial funding was secured in 2019 for the project to start in 2020. Unfortunately COVID-19 intervened and many of the planned activities and travel could not happen. Fortunately our field workers were in the countries where field work was to take place, so were able to undertake field work in the course of 2021 and 2022, following an extension of the initial project funding. In December 2022 a further field work project was undertaken in Fiji and in March 2023 pathway to impact events were held in Fiji and Solomon Islands.

Outcomes of the project included two academic publications (Farran, S. ‘Balancing livelihoods with environmental protection: a case study from Fiji’ (2020) 4 Environmental Law Review 266-279, Corrin J. and Farran S. ‘Comparative Perspective on Plural Legal governance of Marine Resources in the Pacific (2022) 27 Comparative Law Journal of the Pacific 33-56; two short film clips, five story-books and an art exhibition in the foyer of the Law School of Newcastle University, in Windsor Terrace, curated by Mathew Jarrett.