Traditional Knowledge

Pacific people have long read the ocean as a living map - using tides, moon phases, shifting seasons, and the behaviour of birds and fish to guide them. This deep Traditional Knowledge (TK) helps communities find food, travel safely, adapt to climate change and keep their culture strong.

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Traditional Knowledge Indicators

Traditional Knowledge Ocean Indicators show how coastal and island communities understand and care for the ocean. These daily life observations are passed down through stories, songs and chants. These indicators are place‑based, seasonal, and relational, connecting people with nature. They include reading tides and currents for safe travel and fishing; using moon phases and seasons to understand fish movement and harvest times; observing fish, birds, and plants to signal weather changes and ocean health; and applying traditional seasonal calendars to set fishing seasons and rest periods.

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Tidal Knowledge & Ocean Safety

Understanding tides is central to Pacific Traditional Knowledge, helping communities decide when to travel, fish, and gather food. This knowledge is deeply rooted in the long history of Pacific voyaging, when navigators used the rhythms of tides, currents, winds, and stars to journey across vast ocean distances and settle the Pacific islands of the .  Today, this knowledge still helps communities stay safe. For example, unusually low or fast‑receding water can warn of a tsunami.

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Using tidal information

This knowledge is carried through language, stories, chants, and the observations of elders, navigators and fishers, and, when used, recognised and respected along with scientific knowledge,  strengthens food security, safety at sea, climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and cultural continuity

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In many Pacific cultures, tide names come from coastal birds and animals.

For example, in Tonga,  the Kiu (Pluvialis fulva) is a bird often seen feeding in shallow water.  Tu’u’anga Kiu: refers to a low tide when rocks are visible and the birds can stand on it for fishing  (Tu'u'anga means ‘to stand’). The term is also used in Kava ceremony to describe when the kava level is low.

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Traditional Seasonal Calendar

In some communities, tidal cycles and seasonal changes guide fishing practices: determining reef access during the different tides and combining this with seasonal abundance of fish inform local customs for communal fishing. The exact dates of the harvest are determined by community specialists who understand the movement of fish in relation to lunar phases and optimal tidal conditions.

This helps ensure sustainable harvests and protects marine resources