Olema and sons have a fishing deal going

By JOYCE INGIPA
M UM Olema Hare sells during the day the fish her five sons catch at night.
The family from Gabagaba, Rogi district in Central have been relying on fishing to survive – and they are loving the arrangement they have been doing over the years.
Mum Olema, 51, sells what her sons catch at the Koki Fish Market.
“My sons are all fishermen. They go out to fish in the night while I wait at home. They bring their catch to be sold at the market.”
While people in the Rigo District are better known as tillers of the ground, growing cash crops such as bananas and coconuts, the Hare family prefers the resources of the sea. They have fishing for the past 20 years and love what they do.
“We have been fishing and selling for the last 20 years. I like selling fish here at Koki Market because people like buying my fish.”
Most of her customers are Asians plus people from the highlands and Central living in Port Moresby.

She makes between K400 and K500 a day.
“I sell a bundle of fish for K30 and loose ones for K5 to K20.”
Her biggest problem is transporting the catch to the market. She normally travels from Gabagaba to Port Moresby on public transport which drops her off at the Koki Market. It costs K7 for the fare plus a little extra for her cargo.
“If the weather is fine and the boys catch more, I travel the whole week to sell at the market.”
Her main expenses are the K14 fare and the K40 for the market fee.
“I use the rest of the money to buy food and other necessities we need in the village.”
Olema buys the basic items such as rice, flour, sugar and tea for the family.
She loves the idea of sharing responsibilities in the family rather than putting the pressure on one person.
“My husband does the gardening, my sons fish and I sell the catch.”
She believes every family member should play a part in helping to provide food and income for the family.
“In my family everyone has a role to play. At the end of the day, we all work and we all have something on the table for dinner.”
Fish and vegetables are the family’s favourite dish.
Her earnings depend on the weather and customers.
“When the weather is fine, my sons catch a lot of fish and I make good money. But when the weather is bad, they catch less.”
Olema like any mothers prays for the safety of her sons while they are at sea because it is dangerous especially during stormy weather.
“I am always awake at night when my sons go out to fish and pray to God for their safety.”
She thinks life is meaningful when one toils the land and harvest from the forest and sea to sustain themselves.
“God has blessed us with fertile soil and abundant food source at sea. And on the land, we can feed from and earn a little to sustain us. I don’t see any reason why some people are lazing around and begging on the streets.”