Felix Reyes, Guam Coordinator for the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council said while many speak of the island's dancing, arts and crafts, and music, many tend to forget that fishing is very much part of our culture.

“Based on scientific evidence and archaeological digs, those activities demonstrate that our ancestors caught palegic fish using tools like seashells, and other types of things they created before the age of steel hooks. fishing is one of the older representations of our culture, even before farming...fishing is what fed the families,” said Reyes

So it is only fitting that fishing and families are the focal point of the Guam Museum's upcoming exhibit: I Maneguihan: The Families that Fish.

Guam Museum Curator Dr. Mike Bevacqua said, “I Maneguihan: Families that Fish comes about from the lunar fishing calendar, that the council does every year where they celebrate fishing families. They reached out partnering with the Guam Museum for a full exhibit and also invited other agencies that work on these types of issues and also want to participate in sharing the history and the culture and the importance of protecting.”

The exhibit will highlight the families of Guam that have passed down the skills and knowledge of fishing. It will not only celebrate the tradition but it will also educate.

The exhibit opens April 9.

Bevacqua added, “When they come down here they'll be able to learn about all sorts of things, they will be welcomed at the lobby by the 15-foot Blue Marlin that the Guam International Airport has loaned to us. They will see ancient artifacts created by the CHamoru people they used to sustain themselves. They will see beautiful images that were donated by David Berdick from the marine lab that show the reefs and the fish that sustain us. They all learn about the ancient calendar based created by the ancient CHamorus.”

And there will an array of beautiful photographs

“So it's nice to have a wall that has all of these families catching fish the old fashioned way. Coming together using their hands, their nets, rod and reel....the photos are sepia and black and white, old fashioned Guam fishing photos,” said Bevacqua.

For more information, visit wpcouncil.org.