Over spring break, University of Miami graduate students traveled with RSMAS professor and marine anthropologist, Sarah Meltzoff, to the Bahamas’ Exuma Cays Chain for an ethnographic fieldwork course.
Residents of Little Farmers Cay opened their homes to the visiting students for a week while they conducted in-depth life and work histories and open-ended interviews to investigate various cultural aspects of this small fishing community.
Students examined the rival stakeholder groups involved in fisheries and the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park and explored various interests from conservation to tourism and development. Little Farmers Cay locals joined in teaching the group about their life, including the women who plat baskets and make shell jewelry; the men who fish through hand lining and the use of compressors; students from the all-age school; the clinic nurse; and governmental leaders.
Christine Beggs
MPS Student – Marine Conservation
Founder, Project Blue Hope
www.ProjectBlueHope.com