Indigenous knowledge with science forms an early warning system for ciguatera fish poisoning outbreak in Vanuatu

Abstract

Indigenous and traditional knowledge of the natural environment is crucial for policymakers and community leaders in Vanuatu. Here, we employ a mixed-methods approach to collect data from East, North, and West Area councils in Ambae Island, Vanuatu, and investigate the integration of science and local indicators to predict the presence of ciguatera fish poisoning to enhance community responses to health risk management. We found fourteen local indicators for the ciguatera outbreak. We also identified uses of scientific information from various sources to verify their Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge before making decisions. This led to the development of ‘The Gigila Framework’ to integrate Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge with science. We also found that both community and government agencies recognize the importance of incorporating community roles into the overall early warning system for ciguatera fish poisoning in Vanuatu. Our study highlights the need for government agencies to collaborate with local communities to evaluate and develop the best practices that enable the integration of Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge with science to improve community responses to health risk management in Vanuatu. Traditional knowledge of plants and animal species, geological hazards, and astronomy combined with Western science observations can create an early warning system for a foodborne illness, Ciguatera fish poisoning in Vanuatu, according to thematic analysis that builds on community interviews.