Project update - Fiji Coral Reef Conservation Project - July 2004
Added to website: 01 July 2004
Project Brief
Aim
The Fiji Coral Reef Conservation Project (FCRCP) is a three-year project (2002-2005) to survey coral reefs of the Mamanuca Islands and other areas of Fiji. The programme provides training and conservation education opportunities for local Fijians, as part of an integrated programme to develop local capacity and ensure the long-term protection and sustainable use of marine resources throughout the region.
Location
Mamanuca Islands, West Coast Viti Levu, Fiji.
CCC Partners
CCC is working at the invitation of and in partnership with the Government of Fiji, local communities, the tourism sector and other groups.
Marine Science Programme
Baseline Surveys
Number and location of Surveys
- Lovely Louise 11
- Outer barrier (inner) 5
- Nuku 2
- Inner barrier 3
- Lovely Louise 2
- Outer barrier (inner) 1
- Nuku 1
Reef Check
None
Interesting / Unusual Sightings
Turtle (Hawksbill/green), White tip shark, Spotted eagle ray and Leopard shark
Environmental Awareness
Capacity Building/Training of Local Counterparts
One more Dive Operator Network Workshop was conducted this month as Coral Cay and the Mamanuca Environment Society visited the resort of Musket Cove, on nearby Malolo Lailai island. This workshop was for the benefit of one of the largest dive operators in the Mamanucas, Subsurface (based at Musket Cove and at Beachcomber Island). Unfortunately, Subsurface had been unable to send staff to the previous series of workshops held in June. Therefore in one day we ran through the content of those workshops, covering coral reef biology and ecology, threats to reefs, carrying capacity of reefs, use of environmentally-friendly mooring buoys, the Reef Check survey protocol and the concept of the Mamanuca Dive Operators Reef Check Network. Luckily the staff present at the workshop were all very keen to learn and worked hard all day. The outcome was another successful Dive Operator Workshop, and the introduction of one more important member to the Dive Operators Network for the Mamanucas.
Coral Cay on the Coral Coast: July saw the inauguration of a new project along the Coral Coast for Coral Cay in Fiji. The Coral Coast runs along the south western coast of the mainland, Viti Levu. There is a fringing reef system there quite close in to the shore, creating a very shallow, tidal back reef area immediately off shore. The reef in this area is quite impacted - a combination of nutrient enrichment from the many resorts and villages along the coast, wave impact from the open ocean to the south and also the effects of the coral and live rock harvesting that take place on the reefs along the coast. Coral Cay Conservation will be working closely with the Integrated Coastal Management group (based at the University of the South Pacific in Suva), who have a pilot scheme for integrated coastal management running along the Coral Coast. Surveyors from the University will assist Coral Cay personnel based on the coast in data collection. It is hoped that the biological information collected by this project will provide a valuable addition to the ICM effort along the coast, allowing sensible management decisions to be made with the right data to hand.
