Growing Chinese dominance of the bêche-de-mer trade: A Papua New Guinean resource sector characterised by paradox

The export commodity market for bêche-de-mer in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is unique and fascinating. Bêche-de-mer is the cooked, gutted and dried body wall of sea cucumbers. There are over 25 species of sea cucumbers that are processed into bêche-de-mer in PNG, most of which can be hand collected without scuba or compressors (though these can make it easier to harvest some species). The market price varies significantly among species, with three species typically fetching prices above K200/kg if properly processed. It costs relatively little to produce and can be easily stored. Once dried, bêche-de-mer can remain in good condition without refrigeration for months while awaiting suitable transport to take it to market, which makes it a particularly suitable commodity for producers in remote locations such as small islands where transport is infrequent. The equipment required to harvest and process sea cucumbers is relatively simple (the freshly harvested sea cucumber must be boiled, gutted and dried, either by sun or over a low fire) and within financial reach of most rural coastal and island people in PNG. As such, it represents one of the most evenly distributed sources of substantial income for these rural coastal and island people. While the benefit can be distributed relatively evenly in space, it has mostly been sporadically distributed over time as sea cucumber fisheries are prone to series of ‘boom and bust’ cycles, which have been the topic of commentary in fisheries management circles for many years (Hair et al., 2016; Kinch et al., 2008; Preston, 1993). This has significant implications for the various economic, social and cultural impacts of the fishery. For example, when coastal families derive substantial pulses of income from the sale of a large quantity of bêche-de-mer, they may significantly reduce labour inputs to subsistence gardens because they can buy imported foods such as rice and flour (Foale, 2005; Hair et al., 2019). The risk of loss of traditional agricultural knowledge as a result is real and could potentially impact on food security over the long term (Kinch, 2020; Macintyre & Foale, 2010; Macintyre & Foale, 2013).

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The Chinese in Papua New Guinea: Past, Present and Future

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9781760466404

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