Project update - Fiji Reef Conservation Project - May 2004
Added to website: 01 May 2004
Project Brief
Aim
The Fiji Coral Reef Conservation Project is a three-year project (2002-2005) to survey coral reefs of the Mamanuca Islands, the Yasawa 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
Ravinaki, Castaway Island, Mamanuca Islands, West Coast Viti Levu, Fiji.
CCC Partners
CCC is working at the invitation of and in partners with the Government of Fiji, local communities, the tourism sector and other groups.
Marine Science Programme
Baseline Surveys
Number and location of Surveys
Number of transects completed and opened
n/a
Reef Check
n/a
Interesting / Unusual Sightings
A couple of good things, a 5 meter turtle at Plantation Pinnacle and a grey reef shark; a few dolphins here and there and after all the manta ray spottings at the Yasawas, we had a devil ray at Outer Barrier. Also at a neglected site called Rainbow just off Castaway, a very colourful and large mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) about 15cm long. We also saw a spectacular 2-meter wingspan spotted eagle ray!
Environmental Awareness
Capacity Building/Training of Local Counterparts
School education programme: This month saw preliminary talks with Yanuya school about starting up a primary school education project similar to that held in Solevu last term. This would be run in conjunction with the Mamanuca Environment Society (MES), and would be a fantastic opportunity for establishing a CCC presence in the northern Mamanuca islands (Tokoriki, Yanuya, Tavua) which have so far not seen much of our activities. There were also further discussions this month with the Ratu Meli Memorial School in the Yasawas. The programme was re-written to suit the longer terms there, and the new workbooks have now been printed up and are ready for action. Within the next couple of weeks, with the arrival of a new Project Scientist for the Yasawas site, this school programme can get off the ground.
Scholarship programme: Two students have now been accepted for next month’s scholarship programme, to start on the 19th June. This involves one week of dive training (to PADI Advanced Open Water level) and then two weeks of science training (species ID skills and survey techniques). The two students accepted, Jolame and Marika, live in Suva and are involved in the Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area Network (FLMMA Network). Through their activities with FLMMA they are responsible for working closely with communities to monitor local marine protected areas. The CCC Scholarship programme is therefore a fantastic opportunity for them to increase their knowledge of the marine environment and monitoring methods, which will be of great benefit not only to them but also to the communities in which they work.
