Who’s on First?

Multi-stakeholders participation for thesustainability of Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries System

Yoo Chul-In
Professor of Anthropology,Jeju National University, Korea
chulin@jejunu.ac.kr

The 5th Conference of ERAHS(East Asia Research Association for
Agricultural Heritage Systems), Wakayama, Japan, August 26-29, 2018

Contents© Kim Hungku (2010)

1. Introduction
2. Stakeholders in Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries System
3. Conclusion

2

Paintings (1703)

1. Introduction▪ The word of haenyeo (海女)Sea women or women of the sea▪ Women divers without
any breathing apparatus- Hold one’s breath for one minute- Dive ten meters deep underwater- Gather marine products, including top-shells, sea urchins,agar, sea cucumbers, abalone, etc.
- Work for 4 to 6 hours a day; About 90 days a year

▪ History:
Appeared in historical documents from the 17th century
3

The Population of Jeju Haenyeo by AgeTotal
1970 14,143
1980

7,804

1990

6,827

2000

5,789

2010

4,995

-29

30-49

(%)

50+(%)

(%)

4,426

7,764

1,953

764

4,737

2,303

294

3,017

3,516

3

1,282

4,504

125

4,870

(31.3)(54.9)(9.8)(13.8)(60.7)(4.3)(29.5)(44.2)(0.1)(51.5)(22.1)(77.8)(2.5)(97.5)

30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79
2016

4,005

12(0.3)46403(1.1) (10.1)

1,246(31.1)

1,734

80+
564

(43.3) (14.1)
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Population of fisher folks on Jeju Island
haenyeo (A)fisher folks (B)A/B (%)

1970

14,14323,985

59

1980

7,804

12,216

64

1990

6,827

10,837

63

2000

5,789

7,976

73

2010

4,995

6,379

78

2016

4,005

4,967

81

Source: 2017 Statistical Yearbook of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province52. Stakeholders in Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries System▪ Haenyeo▪ Haenyeo associations© Lee Sung-eun (2006)▪ Village fishery cooperatives▪ Local and central governments▪ Scholars
62. Stakeholders in Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries System1) Haenyeo▪ Not born with special physical conditions
fit for diving▪ Learn the basics by watching more experienced divers andlistening to their experiences,and then practice diving repeatedly over many years▪ Sustainability of diving work:
Human greed for a big catch is counterbalanced by anindividual’s capacity to remain underwater without the aid ofbreathing equipment
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2. Stakeholders in Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries System2) Village Fishery Coop
▪ Exclusive fishing rights over the sea near its village▪ Autonomously manages the village sea- Controls diving and non-diving days
- Regulates working hours a day- Prohibits the use of some technology▪ Implements the measures to dive sustainably- Sows the seeds of top-shells and abalone in the village sea

with the haenyeo association and local/central governments8

2. Stakeholders in Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries System

The head of a village fishery cooperative waving a flagin order to stop the diving work
© Lee Sung-eun (2006)
92. Stakeholders in Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries System3) Haenyeo association▪ Voluntary village fishery coop-affiliated organization▪ Implements the measures to dive sustainably-Decides whether the diving work is possible today by upperskilled haenyeo (sanggun 上軍)-

Buddy system- Cleans and weeds the seashore and the intertidal zone
- Sows the seeds of top-shells and abalone in the village sea withthe village fishery coop and local/central governments10

2. Stakeholders in Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries SystemJeju sanggun [upper-skilled] haenyeo © Lee Sung-eun (2003)

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2. Stakeholders in Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries System

Buddy system of Hansu-ri
Fishery Cooperative
Each group: upper-skilled, middleskilled, and lower-skilled haenyeo
NB
1.

Check each one’s physicalcondition before diving work

2.

Communication during divingwork

3.

Come together after work

Photographed at Hansu-ri Dressing Facility
2017. 10. 1
122. Stakeholders in Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries System

Cleaning the underwater area and intertidal zone
Courtesy of the Haenyeo Museum13

2. Stakeholders in Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries System4) Local and central governments▪ Conserve the haenyeo fisheries system- Regulate the minimum size of the catch- Monitor marine resources in the village sea- Sows the seeds of top-shells and abalone
in the village sea with the village fishery coopand the haenyeo association

Photographed at Hado-ri
2017. 7. 2

▪ Local government promotes the welfare of haenyeo.
-A subsidy for the start-up fees to join the village fishery coop

-Free medical care for haenyeo since 2002
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2. Stakeholders in Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries System

4) Local and central governments▪ Designate the haenyeo as heritage-Korea Important Fisheries Heritage Systems (2015. 12)-

UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2016. 11)• Raise haenyeo’s self-esteem-

National Intangible Cultural Property (2017. 5)

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2. Stakeholders in Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries System

5) Scholars▪ Document the knowledge and skills of haenyeo-

Mental map of the sea (the reefs and the habitat)-Local knowledge of winds and tides▪ Do research on marine products▪ Develop the curriculum on haenyeo forEducation for Sustainable Development (ESD)16

2. Stakeholders in Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries System

Map of village fishing grounds
17

3. Conclusion▪ Who’s on First?
- Haenyeo themselves▪ Sustainability of haenyeo fisheries- Haenyeo themselves- Village fishery cooperative/Haenyeo association▪ Cooperation among stakeholders- Marine resources in the village fishing grounds- GIAHS18

3. Conclusion▪ Haenyeo, village fishery coop and haenyeo association- Sustainability of haenyeo fisheries• Harvest only the marine products of the proper size
• Designate alternating areas as off-limits for diving• Reduce working hours and the number of diving days

- Recruitment of haenyeo• Revise the qualifications for membership- Revitalization of haenyeo culture• The cooperative nature of diving work
• Care for the weak
• Value of common needs

Courtesy of the Haenyeo Museum19

Thank you for your attention!

A painting by Eva Armisén(source: Facebook)20