Consumption of mollusks and potential utilization of resulting shell wastes for shellcraft within a Pacific Islands context
Simard, N.S.M.; Militz, T.A.; Kinch, J.; Southgate, P.C. (2023). Consumption of mollusks and potential utilization of resulting shell wastes for shellcraft within a Pacific Islands context. Hum. Ecol. 51(6): 1057-1069. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10745-023-00457-2
In: Human Ecology. Springer: New York,. ISSN 0300-7839; e-ISSN 1572-9915, more
|  |
| Authors | | Top |
- Simard, N.S.M.
- Militz, T.A.
- Kinch, J.
- Southgate, P.C.
|
|
|
| Abstract |
Bivalves (Mollusca: Bivalvia) and gastropods (Mollusca: Gastropoda) are a common component of diets in the Pacific Islands region. After consuming the soft tissue of these organisms, their shells are commonly discarded. We consider how such discards, or shell wastes, might serve as a resource for value-adding activities and focus on a case study of shell wastes being utilized for shellcraft in the Tigak Islands of Papua New Guinea. Through an interview-based approach, we investigate the composition and quantities of shell wastes generated by households, the extent these shell wastes are already integrated with shellcraft, and whether continued generation of these shell wastes remains possible. We found consumption of bivalves and gastropods varies among households, in both composition and quantities, such that each household generates unique shell wastes. However, shell wastes are seldom utilized for shellcraft, with substantial variation between the species consumed and the extent their shell wastes are utilized within households (F = 16.2, P < 0.01). For roughly half (n = 15) of all species consumed (n = 31), significant quantities of unutilized shell wastes coincided with positive perceptions of stock status. We argue that integrating shell wastes with shellcraft is a viable pathway to support livelihood enhancement. Our findings in this local context have regional significance in providing useful insights for guiding interventions to assist households better integrate shell wastes with shellcraft. |
|
