Expedition Leader: Fiji Reef Conservation Project - Paradise Lost
Added to website: 26 July 2004
Having spent the last 8 months as Project Scientist on the Fiji Coral Reef Conservation Project, I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible to volunteer for Coral Cay Conservation without developing a close affinity with the organisation. As a project scientist you not only become part of the team, you fall into a leadership role, by virtue of the length of time you spend on site. You really become well versed in the ideals of Coral Cay and the operations undertaken to “provide resources to help sustain livelihoods and alleviate poverty through the protection, restoration and management of coral reefs and tropical forests”. Volunteers, tourists, locals, project partners, taxi drivers, bar tenders and even car park attendants have heard me rhapsodize about marine conservation, it’s particular applicability to the locality and peppered, ofcourse, with an interesting observation from my latest dive! At the time I overlooked it, but this unexpected outburst was often met with “Wow! What you guys are doing sounds incredible!” Now, halfway through my handover and with two weeks to go, I’m realizing the importance of what I am passing on.
The project scientist occupies a unique niche on expedition. The role appeals to certain people and a number of adjectives fittingly describe this lesser spotted species - busy, independent, committed, informative, enthusiastic and preoccupied. While no fixed set of tasks define it, a cluster of common denominators characterize the project scientist role. Fostering an understanding of the reef, its associated species and the processes contained therein remains a key tenet of any Coral Cay expedition. This is done by imparting knowledge to a range of people, and it is the responsibility of the project scientist is to recognise, and be receptive to, the needs of these different audiences. The importance of this duty is two-fold; while you find yourself explaining to inquisitive people the rationale behind a rowdy group of ‘conservationists’ setting up camp on a tropical island, you also come to think of yourself as a one-man conservation crusader. I often found myself digressing on the slow growth rate of corals while mourning what was once a beautiful Turbinaria reniformis before the snorkeller decided to rest their feet on top of it. Anyone who is passionate about the cause just can’t help themselves, and woe betide any divers in training with wayward fins!
An equally significant role of the project scientist is that of ambassador to project partners. It would be very difficult to carry out the tasks necessary to run an expedition efficiently without the help of numerous, often philanthropic, in-country associates. Establishing close working relations with local business or resource owners, societies and government departments enables the progress of the project to be relayed to stakeholders on a regular basis whilst ensuring that our everyday needs are catered for.
Maintaining relations with the local community, which can be done in a number of ways, is a vitally important role taken on by the project scientist. Free from the responsibility of paying wages, arranging who is working when and generally being “the boss”, the project scientist is in a position to form a more personal connection with local staff. This afforded me a rare insight into the dynamics of our local community and time spent sipping tea in the shade with Selita (our cook), hearing the latest news was always enjoyable. Numerous tit bits of practical information were also uncovered during idle chitchat. Enquiries about local customs were frequently answered by local staff, whose general advice on how to get things done while living on an island proved indispensable. Volunteers welcomed the opportunity to visit local villages during fundraising or clean-up events; such invitations would not have been received were it not for our good fortune to have such a rapport with the local staff.
One of the most fulfilling parts of the job was coordinating the Marine Scholarship Programme in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism and University of the South Pacific. The idea of this programme is that four Fijian national scholars join the expedition for SCUBA and science training free of charge. This capacity building initiative builds on local monitoring expertise and ensures that the project is more sustainable. Once CCC has moved on, local counterparts will be able to monitor and manage their marine resources. Changes in the application process limited the number of people we were able to train during my term but I hope this will be an area of expansion as Coral Cay’s operations in Fiji grow.
Anyone applying for the project scientist post, feeling slightly self-indulgent and thinking they will have a few months recreation is mistaken. Taking on a prominent role in what is already an active venture leaves even the most energetic person mentally and physically fatigued. Looking back through notebooks reminds me just how many thoughts were swimming around my head as I went about my everyday business. Trips to town were often plagued with requests for printing, photocopying, rope for fish buoys and cries of “don’t forget to check when the O2 will be ready!” as I headed out the door. A phrase often muttered by our Expedition Leader after dinner was “it’s an expedition, not a holiday!” That sentiment was particularly salient for staff members, whom it wasn’t uncommon to see working by torchlight once the generator had gone off. Funnily enough, there was always more activity than I expected in those late hours!
And ofcourse - the science! It is ultimately the responsibility of the Project Scientist to coordinate survey progression. While you may work to a long-term strategy, factors such as weather, time and resources available will largely determine day-to-day decisions on which areas are surveyed. All data has to be entered into the database and regularly backed up. Upon completion of each survey sector (reef area), findings need to be summarised in a qualitative report, these are often disseminated to project partners. It is likely that you will use your data analysis and report writing skills to help with one of the bi-annual reports. Every month the “Skills Development Programme” is run, which consists of running a two-week training programme in marine species identification, survey methodologies and more general principles of marine science. Most of this is done with the support of a Science Officer, although it is your responsibility to guide the science operations. All Activity is reported to head office on a weekly basis.
I like to think that these facets can be brought together in different proportions, forming a project scientist cocktail, to the taste of each individual! Naturally the strengths of people who come to the role lie in different areas and this lends itself well to overall project progression. Given the contract length (6months), you inevitably become regarded as something of an old stalwart, a wise owl. Passing on skills is of paramount importance when running an expedition with such a high turnover of personnel. It is watching the transition, in both staff and volunteers, from clueless muppet to champion of expedition operations that I found most satisfying. Expedition life really does change people and listening to numerous farewell speeches acknowledging this is testament to the pleasure that this personal development brings.
Having had a tete-a-tete with numerous fellow staff members, it becomes clear that working for Coral Cay is somewhat paradoxical. Being a member of staff on expedition is at once incredibly challenging and frustrating, yet rewarding and enjoyable. Some people passed through leaving inspiration, motivation and memories of good times together, while others I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief to see the back of. As James Sawyer, Director of Field Operations and I once reflected, the experience affords you the highest highs and the lowest lows. I wouldn’t give it up for the world.
-Sarah Hamylton
