Pacific Pathways is helping Futuna Island in Vanuatu after cyclones Judy & Kevin made landfall last week !

Futuna Island cyclone recovery project:

Rebuild Ipau community Fish Market House

We have been in discussions with the Area Administrator for Futuna, Isso Nihemei to find out how we can help the communities recover and rebuild. Isso, acknowledges the help they have been receiving from the larger NGOs with immediate response: food, water, medical items. After discussions with the communities, the request was for help to rebuild the Community Fish Market House in Ipau Village.

Isso …. “The fish market house, is very important as it stores the fresh fish caught daily. It is a means for income and has made a huge difference for the people of Futuna by keeping the villagers healthy and reduces health issues which was confirm by our local nurse.”

Pacific Pathways – Rebuild Ipau community Fish Market House

With the funds raised through our Give a Little page and donations from Dunedin Harbour Rotary and Garden City Christchurch Rotary, we will purchase the building materials needed to repair the building & replace the roof. We will also replace the damaged solar panels, battery & invertor. Fortunately, the deep freeze survived.

To share with you a story from Isso, about life on Futuna and the importance of the Fish Market House.

Ipau Village has the biggest population of Futuna with a total of 141 Indigenous residents with 30 households. This village is the business centre for the island where the Area Council office, dispensary and Tafarere airstrip are located. All the people around the island walk to Ipau Village to access these facilities, there are no roads or vehicle on Futuna.

The people of Ipau are sometimes called, the 'Tama bau' or ‘the people of the sea’ because of their fishing expertise. They spend almost everyday fishing in their boats and canoes and others using traditional fishing techniques such 'bamboo fishing', netting and spearfishing. The fish caught feeds almost half of the population in Futuna. The people of Futuna, recognise the importance of ‘fish’ as a good protein for the family diet and half of their income comes from their fishing activities.

The community Fish Market house was set up in 2000 with help from: Vanuatu Fisheries Department and the Vanuatu Climate Adaptation Program (VCAP) to support Ipau Fishermen and the community of Ipau. The purpose of this program is to:

1. Eliminate food imports to the island specifically tin items (tuna, fish etc)

2. Promote sustainable local/traditional food grown, in their gardens.

3. The freezer is storage and backup for the Ipauans during bad weather.

4. It helps to provide a sustainable supply of fresh fish for the people of Futuna.

5. Excess is exported to Port Vila & Tanna, which creates an income for the people of Futuna.

And how it all works:

The village council manage the fish market. This committee purchase fish directly from local fisherman per kilo's then sell the fish at an affordable price to the customers. The fish price must be less than the tin items from shop to encourage the people of Futuna to buy local fresh fish rather than imported tin food items. Well done, Futuna!

Pacific Pathways would like to thank you all for your support, which has made this all possible.We also pass on the thanks and warm appreciation from the people of Futuna. We look forward to sharing this journey with you, as we plan to visit Futuna later this year.

Pacific Pathways helping those on the path less travelled.