Ugly Tuna Island – Campbellot J

Ambassador: Shelly Douglas.418
Joey Ball
Elizabeth Heneghan
Megan Krisby
Lauren Walker

 

Ugly Tuna Island was founded in 1532 by lost sailors trying to make their way home to what is now Community C. Today, it has a population of 100,000 people. Its natural capital is one of its most important assets. Ugly Tuna Island is abundant with beautiful scenery and fishing opportunities. Lush forests, exotic birds, and powerful waves are common to the area. The citizens have relied on fishing as a way of life and many are world-class sailors and operators of handcrafted sailboats. The island gets its name from the native fish that has been plentiful in the area: tuna. However, these local fish stocks are threatened by pollution from Communities C and G.

     The UN/IMF development status describes Ugly Tuna Island as a low-income, low economic output, and low education level community. This has not had an effect on the island’s cultural capital. Citizens of the community are laid-back and passionate about their traditions rooted around fishing. Other communities describe the citizens as honest and easy to get along with. Hence why cultural capital is another significant asset to the community. The island also has great social capital and is extremely welcoming to tourists and visitors. The subtropical atmosphere is a combination of maritime and humid climates. This, along with the stunning natural capital, provide Ugly Tuna Island with great potential for tourism and recreation. The potential of these opportunities relies on the community’s built capital, which needs to be strengthened.
       The UN/IMF development status also points out that the community’s built capital is lacking. Ugly Tuna Island is quite secluded from other communities due to limited transportation. The sea port is in poor condition due to a severe hurricane that struck the community ten years ago, and there are only a few ferry boats. While there is a seasonal airport, citizens primarily use Community C’s seaport to reach the mainland. Not only is it difficult to reach Ugly Tuna Island, the community also has poor infrastructure of unpaved roads and dilapidated buildings. The island has trouble reaching out to the mainland communities because of poor telecommunications. This disconnect also excludes citizens from higher education and outside knowledge which is why their human capital is struggling as well. Citizens have strong traditional knowledge, but disease is prevalent from lack of education and resources. Ugly Tuna Island has strong political capital. The community exists within the nation’s democratic, representative government. Local leaders are trusted within the community, but have trouble engaging outside forces. The citizens admire their main leader, Moana, who has been head of the government for twenty-five years. One problem the community faces is getting tourism companies to help with infrastructure growth. Local leaders are wary of letting outside forces take over their island for tourist destinations. The island also has two representatives within the national government. However, these officials often lack a say in decisions because of poor communication and transportation.
       Ugly Tuna Island follows the nation’s capitalist system. A language barrier made trade less common because the citizens speak their native language called Isla. Overall, there is low financial capital because of failing infrastructure. In the past, citizens relied on the fishing industry for economic success. Unfortunately, rising sea levels and chaotic weather patterns are threatening this way of life. Ugly Tuna Island has high potential for growth and development through tourism, recreation, and forest products if they can boost their infrastructure and taxation systems.

Community J: This community is located on an island within the ocean. 

Population size = 100,000 

Natural: 7 This community has been endowed with beautiful scenery and great tourism opportunities, but the threat of rising sea levels and shifting weather patterns have been a recent concern. Research from the University in community B is finding that combined pollution from communities C and G are threatening the long-term sustainability of aquatic ecosystems, including local fish stocks.

 

Cultural: 7 This community has strong indigenous traditions around land use and fishing rights. People generally regarded by others in the nation (rightly or wrongly) as very open, honest, laid-back, and easy to get along with. Many citizens are world-class sailors and operators of handcrafted sailboats.

 

Human: 4 Strong traditional knowledge, but the limited connection to the rest of the nation leaves little opportunity for higher education and diffusion of knowledge. There is an increasing occurrence of disease and illness. Large companies and political leaders in community C are blaming local fisherman for contributing to fish stock declines in the region.

 

Social: 6 There is a strong sense of community developed around their culture and traditions, and citizens are very welcoming to tourists and visitors. However, due to poor telecommunications infrastructure, they have trouble maintaining connections with mainland communities.

 

Political: 5 There exists strong and trusted local leadership, but the community’s national representatives have little influence within the national government. Local leadership has been unable to engage tourist companies in infrastructure support.

 

Financial: 4 This community was traditionally reliant on fishing and has significant potential for recreation and tourism-based industries, as well as forest products, but failing infrastructure and taxation systems contribute to limited financial growth. Many of the tourism companies are based out of distant communities leading to limited local ownership over key tourist destinations and activities.

 

Built: 3 There are limited transportation options to off-island communities. They have a seasonal airport and unreliable ferry boats. The city’s main seaport is in dire conditions and schools and road infrastructure is inadequate in comparison to other communities in the nation. This community’s primary transportation network to the nation’s mainland is through Community C’s seaport.