Long-held customs, fragile ecosystems, and the people who care for both: How do you honour culture while protecting what sustains it?

What if the world told you your cultural practice was wrong?In the Solomon Island's province of Malaita, dolphin hunting has been part of life for generations — it's a tradition closely tied to trade between tribes. But when videos of the harvest surfaced earlier this year, it sparked international outrage and a heated debate.Conservationists call it cruel and unsustainable, while locals defend it as heritage. In a changing world, how can communities honor their traditions while protecting the environment?You'll hear from Makili Lawrence Kepangi from Malaita, who's been navigating tension between traditional dolphin hunting and marine conservation. Pouli Dr. Keneti Faulalo, CEO of the Samoa Export Authority, discusses the pressures on turtles and how communities are adapting their practices to protect both culture and wildlife. And John 'Magul' Rulmal, co-founder of One People One Reef on Ulithi Atoll in the Federated States of Micronesia, explains how his community is combining traditional knowledge with science to restore reefs and safeguard their seasonal-harvesting rituals.Listen to this episode of Culture Compass with host Afamasaga Seiuli Salamasina von Reiche on ABC Radio Australia.Culture Compass was produced by Deadset Studios for ABC Radio Australia.