Title: The shark fin industry in the Aru Islands, eastern IndonesiaSubmitted by: Yoshiharu Abe, The University of Melbourne, AustraliaThe shark fin industry in the Aru Islands of eastern Indonesia is highly lucrative. Products from this area such as shark fin and trepang have long been considered gourmet items in Chinese cuisine. Ethnic groups throughout Southeast Asia have fished and traded these products to satisfy the significant demand. These trade networks operate on a system of debt/credit relationships. Focusing on activities conducted at the port of Dobo in the Aru Islands, this pater explores the nature of trade and employment relationships between South Sulawesi fishermen and ethnic-Chinese traders. The flexible nature of these relationships was highlighted during the recent crisis in Indonesia in 1998/99, when the industry experienced rapid fluctuations in profitability. This study will serves as an important example of trade and labour organisation systems among ethnic groups in the marine industry. Return to Abstracts menuCarol Burnett Phone: 61 - 3 - 9349 1899 Email: c.burnett@asialink.unimelb.edu.au
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