Fishing

Fresh water fish

Until recently, the main fresh water fish species were three members of the genus Paratilapia, pictured left. These are very small fish, weighing only 5 - 20 grams each.

Some time around 2002, when the water level was very high in the Namonte lakes, someone introduced the snakehead fish vangalopake (Channa striata) pictured right, from the Mangoky river. This is a predatory fish-- it eats Paratilapia-- thus it is a potentially harmful addition to the ecosystem. But it is easy to understand why Mikea like having vangalopake in their ponds. With no large game to hunt, these 2 - 3 kg fish are the largest-bodied wild animals around.

Marine fishing

Mikea living in coastal villages fish in the shallow bays and mangrove swamps. They rarely fish in the deep sea, as do their Vezo neighbors. Mikea catch fish with two methods.

The first method is line fishing, called talirano, pictured right top. They purchase fishing line and hooks. They use various small shellfish for bait.

The second method is net fishing, mihaza, pictured right bottom. A long net is extended in a U shape in shallow water, and held in place by people or with a harpoon (voloso). Then another fisher enters the opening of the U, and start slapping the water surface with a long stick. The fish are startled and dart away, getting caught in the net.

Some fish are eaten. Other fish are smoked and sold to a mobile retailer; or, salted and sold to an exporter.

Marine foraging

In addition to fish, Mikea gather crabs, hunt octopus (pictured left), and gather sea cucumbers, especially janga foty (Holothuria scabra) pictured right. Mikea do not eat sea cucumbers, but sell them to exporters who resell them in east Asia.