Pacific island economies : some observations on the economic consequences of natural disasters

The many difficult development problems faced by small resource-poor island countries such as those in the South Pacific, are all too familiar. Certainly, with small Pacific island countries the leading constraint is vulnerability to external shocks that can lead to economic collapse. Collapsibility can arise either from a sudden loss of export markets or a sharp decline in the terms of trade, and can lead to a drastic decline in GDP and export earnings and prolonged economic stagnation. Other major disturbances can arise from a political crisis ( e.g., Fiji 1987); the exhaustion of a major non-renewable export product (e.g., Kiribati 1979); crop destruction by insects or viral disease (e.g., Western Samoa 1993). As well, economic collapse can arise from periodic natural disasters such as cyclones and prolonged drought. Valuable insights into the economic collapsibility of small island countries in the Pacific can be found in recent works by Tisdell (1985), Kakazu (1985) and Fairbairn (1987). By means of simple growth models, these authors show that small island countries are incapable of sustainable growth because of vulnerability to external shocks, particularly a collapse in export demand combined with population growth. The analyses come out in favour of development policies that, among other things, encourage subsistence production as a sheet -anchor for these economies. The aim of this paper is to address another potential source of economic collapsibility - natural hazards particularly in the form of highly destructive tropical cyclones. The paper focuses on the recent incidence of tropical cyclones in the South Pacific, the severity of the devastation to these economies, and the impact on growth and policy responses. Particular attention is given to the consequences of a recent cyclone in Western Samoa and a simple theoretical model is presented showing the effects of cyclone devastation. The paper is essentially an exploratory study aimed at highlighting some of the major economic costs to small resource-poor island economies.peer-reviewe

Marine Property Rights in Fiji: Implications for the Development of Giant Clam Mariculture

Marine property rights in Fiji are characterised by state (the Crown) ownership of offshore waters (including seabeds) and Fijian tribal ownership of fishing rights on customary fishing grounds. These fishing grounds are extensive, covering adjacent reefs, lagoons, estuarine and mangrove areas and some outer-reef zones (as well as rivers). Rights to fish on these customary grounds are regulated by tribal groups, as represented by a tribal lineage - the yavusa - or a sub­division of this lineage- the mataqali. The rights of each tribal group over its recognised fishing area apply to the right to carry out subsistence fishing and the power to regulate commercial exploitation of these waters. On biogeographical and ecological grounds, Fiji has the potential to develop giant clam culture as a major productive activity, both subsistence and commercial. However, as practically the entire reef area considered suitable for clam mariculture falls under customary forms of marine tenure, a major requirement is to gain access to these areas. The most critical step in this process is to obtain the consent of the tribal group in which the fishing rights are vested. Regardless of whether a major giant clam project is initiated by a tribal group or by an outside developer, a key ingredient for success is the active support of villagers. This support is critical - to gain access to the reef area in the first instance, and to ensure local co-operation during subsequent stages of project development and operation. There are any possible avenues for fostering meaningful and close co-operation with villagers, including some form of joint venture or partnership arrangement

Marine Property Rights in Relation to Giant Clam Mariculture in the Kingdom of Tonga

Marine property rights on the coastal waters of the Kingdom of Tonga are fairly uncomplicated. Ownership of Tonga's reefs. and lagoons (as well as its territorial waters as a whole) is vested in the Crown and has been so since the late 19th century. While such an arrangement effectively took away the traditional and customary rights of local groups over these waters, it allows open access to all Tongans for purposes of fishing, both subsistence and commercial. The main exceptions are certain restricted areas set aside as marine parks. Leases over reef sites for giant clam and other forms of mariculture can be negotiated with government. The Fisheries Act of 1987 and the Fisheries Regulations of 1989 provide the basic legislative framework for such leases. Specific terms and conditions relating to leases are negotiated under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Under existing legislation, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has fairly wide regulatory powers to ensure, among other things, that mariculture, and fisheries in general, proceed along sound lines. Tonga appears to possess many favourable features for giant clam mariculture. The country's many constituent and widely scattered islands support extensive reef and lagoon areas; the necessary legislative and tenurial framework is in place; while public awareness on the potential of clams as a major industry seem to be growing (Tonga's 'giant clam circle' project has contributed in this respect). The Ha'apai Group, with its large reef areas and generally favourable social environment, appears to be particularly well­ placed to support a major clam project. For purposes of establishing a commercial clam project, including one with foreign participation, the collaboration of local groups seems to be a vital pre-requisite. The involvement of local villagers can be particularly valuable for the policing of project sites to prevent poaching. Collaboration with other local groups also seems necessary, for example, the Fishermens' Association and local government officials

Traditional Reef and Lagoon Tenure in Western Samoa and its Implications for Giant Clam Mariculture

As with many other Pacific island countries (e.g, Fiji), in Western Samoa the system of property rights on reef and lagoon areas is characterised by legal ownership by the state combined with customary ownership of fishing rights by indigenous village groups. These groups hold customary fishing and related rights over adjacent reef and lagoon areas to which all members of the group can enjoy relatively unrestricted access. Overall control of the customary fishing ground of a particular group is exercised by a village council or fono, composed of those who hold chiefly status. Western Samoa is generously endowed with reef and lagoon habitats suitable for clam and related forms of mariculture. However, to gain access to such areas for mariculture purposes, it is necessary to obtain the consent of the villagers through their village council. Whether or not such consent is obtained appears to depend on the villagers' assessment of the nature and extent of the benefits that are likely to result from a mariculture project. Village support is essential not only to gain access to a project site but also to ensure continuing cooperation on the part of villages during the implementation and production stage. Particularly important is village support to prevent fishing and other forms of intrusion on the project site

Customary Marine Tenure in the South Pacific Region and Implications for Giant Clam Mariculture

The many island countries of the South Pacific region contain extensive areas of reefs and lagoons that provide highly favourable habitats for giant clam mariculture and related activities. These reef and lagoon areas fall almost entirely under customary forms of marine tenure whereby fishing rights are held by indigenous tribal, village or family groups. In general, these marine tenure arrangements confer upon members of each tribal and village group the right to share in the marine resources of the group, subject to any restrictions that may be imposed by custom. The customary marine areas that form the traditional fishing grounds of a tribal or village group are the usually adjacent reef and lagoon areas which extend from the land boundaries to the outer edge of the fringing reef. The sharing of marine areas over which a particular customary owner holds exclusive fishing rights is fairly common throughout the South Pacific region. A rich tradition of sharing in the exploitation of marine resources is still found among tribal and village groups. In general, this sharing is not restricted to members of a particular customary group but extends to outsiders, particularly neighbouring villages and an element of reciprocity is usually involved in these cases. As it currently operates among the Pacific island countries, customary marine tenure can be a significant constraint to the development of a major giant clam mariculture project. Uncertainty over ownership rights of customary groups can, for example, involve an unacceptable degree of risk for the prospective developer who will wish to locate his operations in a country and region where marine property rights favour success of the project. To gain access and lease rights over a section of reef and lagoon that is suitable for a giant clam mariculture project, the developer has to obtain the consent of the customary group which controls the area in question. Such consent is normally the prerogative of the tribal or village leaders as representatives of their people. From the available evidence, it seems that whether or not consent is given largely depends on how villagers perceive the kind of benefits expected to derive from a giant clam mariculture project. Perceived benefits appear to include only monetary payments but also those that can arise from a project's impact on local infrastructure, nutrition and the regeneration of fished-out reef and lagoon areas. Consent can also significantly depend on the involvement of local villagers in the development and operation of such the project, for example, by equity contribution, appointment to senior positions, and employment participation. Giant clam mariculture can be initiated and operated by villagers themselves and this approach may be most suitable in relation to small-scale, subsistence-orientated projects. For major commercial ventures the participation of outside developers seems imperative, especially to provide capital funds and technical knowhow. Various forms of institutional arrangements are possible, including joint ventures, but a vital prerequisite is to ensure significant and meaningful participation by the local people. Tribal and village authorities have a range of customary sanctions at their disposal which can be applied to protect a giant clam mariculture project site from encroachment by villagers. These authorities can also support such a project by assisting in the policing of the project site against both local and outside poaching

Reef and Lagoon Tenure in the Republic of Vanuatu and Prospects for Mariculture Development

Property rights to the Republic of Vanuatu's extensive reef and lagoon areas are held by traditional land owners. current legislation confers on indigenous customary owners of land, ownership and usage rights of areas extending out to the sea-side of offshore reef, although in practice, many villages claim rights over sea areas that extend beyond the lega1 limit. In effect, therefore, reef areas are seaward extensions of land over which landowners – usually those adjoining the reef - can claim ownership. Notwithstanding individual ownership rights, reefs and lagoons remain predominantly common property where all members of a given village are free to carry out fishing and related activities. However, overall control of village reef and lagoon areas is usually the responsibility of the village council, comprising village chiefs and elders, and in some cases, an area council composed of leaders from several villages. Vanuatu is endowed with many possible reef and lagoon sites that appear suitable for the development of clam and other forms of mariculture. In effect, to develop a major mariculture project, whether commercial or predominantly village subsistence, a developer would need to approach the appropriate village authorities to seek approval of a project. In the case of individual villages, these authorities are normally the village council and chiefs and the individual reef owners. The approval by these authorities will ensure acceptance of the project by the village as a whole, as well as its co-operation during project implementation. Adopting the right approach in explaining the nature of the project to villagers and proof of the project's viability are vital prerequisites for success in winning local support. Equally important, as emphasised by many village leaders interviewed, is the need to draw up an agreement between the host village and the developer, laying out specific project objectives, mode of operation and terms and conditions of the project

The transition between Neumann and Dirichlet boundary conditions in isotropic elastic plates

The official published version can be obtained from the link below - Copyright @ 2010 by SAGE PublicationsThe transition from Neumann (traction-free) to Dirichlet (fixed-face) boundary conditions is investigated in respect of wave propagation in a linear isotropic elastic layer. Attention is focused on the implications of such a transition on the dispersion curve branches within the long-wave region. The formation of low-frequency band gap that is expected to exist in layers with Dirichlet boundary condition is shown to be caused by different mechanisms in anti-symmetric and symmetric cases. Certain implications to short-wave propagation in the layer are also investigated. The study includes both a numerical investigation and a multi-parameter asymptotic analysis.The work of the first author was supported by an INTAS grant, YSF/06-10000014-5790

Search for heavy long-lived charged particles in pp collisions at s=7\sqrt{s} = 7 TeV

The result of a search for heavy long-lived charged particles produced in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV at the LHC is described. The data sample has been collected using the CMS detector and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 inverse femtobarns. The inner tracking detectors are used to define a sample of events containing tracks with high momentum and high ionization energy loss. A second sample of events with high-momentum and high-ionization tracks satisfying muon identification and long time-of-flight criteria is analyzed independently. In both cases, the results are consistent with the expected background estimated from data. The results are used to establish cross section limits as a function of mass within the context of models with long-lived gluinos, scalar top quarks and scalar taus. Cross section limits on hyper-meson particles, containing new elementary long-lived hyper-quarks predicted by a vector-like confinement model, are also presented. Lower limits at 95% confidence level on the mass of gluinos (scalar top quarks) are found to be 1098 (737) GeV. A limit of 928 (626) GeV is set for a gluino (scalar top quark) that hadronizes into a neutral bound state before reaching the muon detectors. The lower mass limit for a pair produced scalar tau is found to be 223 GeV. Mass limits for a hyper-kaon are placed at 484, 602, and 747 GeV for hyper-rho masses of 800, 1200, and 1600 GeV, respectively.Comment: Submitted to Physics Letters