Tuna Fisherman

The fisherman eyes of seagull
Navigating school of fish movement
Fishing line in hand throttle on sixty
Lost in horizon heading for Solomon Islands
No water bottle, rescue kit too costly.

For this PM boat and crew should return
Engine trouble, Honiara they drift
Outboard motor no problem, home they come
Chanting, singing, boasting of their catch
Today’s lot has been plentiful

Binasoa Passage waves skilfully they enter
Children move like dolphin racing
Greeting uncle, tuna stomach theirs to clean
Dish kaukau sure to finish tonight.

Business man ears sharp driving through villages
Children singing in unionism
“A tun for sale”
A tun for sale
A tun for K5.00
A tun for K5.00

Mama and daughter mumu all night
Tomorrow market day for town
Sell roast tuna for K8.00
Her price you guessed, non-negotiable
Convincing customer’s petrol price has risen
Telling them fish hooks too dear
Reminding him the workers need pay.

The coastal villages in Buka and surrounding islands have gone into fishing businesses Each day (weather permitting), fishermen go trawling in motorised boats. On good fishing days, they catch between 50 to 200 tuna – yellow fins and occasionally a kingfish.

At times fishing trips are not so fruitful – wastage of petrol and oil – and costly to the fishermen.