Share-a-Story 050909

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The Share-a-Story page is intended as a place where OCCI members, and the public can share their marine related experiences and anecdotes. If you would like to see your story here send the text and photos to the email below. Remember, keep it positive!

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FIJI ‘NETWORKING’

by Jeannie Lawson

Jeannie recently visited Fiji which she described as an OCCI networking trip, rather than a holiday. She would have been justified in just taking a holiday, but apparently she didn’t spend the trip sun baking. The following are some insights of marine conservation and preservation as well as some of the degradation that she observed on her holiday networking trip.

1) TAGAQE VILLAGE (Pronounced ‘Tang-aki’)

a) Reef Rock for the Aquarium Trade

Living rock from reefs helps to keep tropical aquariums clean and healthy and is harvested (usually unsustainably) from tropical reefs worldwide for the aquarium trade. In 1996, Ratu Timoci, chief of Tagaqe Village on the Coral Coast of Fiji, began a rock-harvesting project to protect the reef and to provide an income for the village. Pumice (a volcanic rock common in Fiji) is strung on wires and placed in ‘beds’ in the coral lagoon near the village. Over a short period of time the pumice becomes encrusted with coralline algae and other marine growth and becomes ‘living rock’. This is then harvested and processed at a plant in Fiji (Walt Smith International) for sale without taking from the natural reef.

b) Coral-Growing

This project was begun in 2002 in conjunction with Tagaqe Village, Walt Smith International and Hideaway Resort. Some of the faster growing corals are grown in specially heated beds in the lagoon that borders the village. Some of this is processed for sale to the aquarium trade and some is sponsored by resort guests and re-planted on the reef to replenish wild stocks.

c) Giant Clams

Following concerns at Hideaway Resort and Tagaqe Village about the depletion of giant clams in their local reef (due to overharvesting) a project has begun to collect any clams found on the village reef and to bring them to a part of the reef that can be more closely monitored.

d) MPA

The reef adjoining Tagaqe Village was declared a MPA in September 2006 (working with FLMMA). This is now in jeopardy due to alterations to village politics.

2) FLMMA (Fiji Locally Managed Marine Areas)

This is an initiative which involves the University of the South Pacific, Fiji Fisheries dept, several international conservation organisations (eg WWF, Conservation International) and local villages. It aims to work with local villages individually to formulate sustainable management strategies for their traditional reef areas.

I was invited by FLMMA to attend their conference while I was in Fiji. This was a follow-up from their planning and management conference and was focused on identifying ‘road blocks’ that were being encountered that were preventing the management strategies from being implemented. I could only attend for 1 hour due to my time constraints, but gleaned that their main obstacle was engaging the villages and maintaining engagement in the programme.

3) KULA ECO-PARK

Working in conjunction with Taronga Zoo, this park has a breeding programme for the endangered Fijian Crested Iguana. It also has displays of local marine life. Their focus is on educating the children of Fiji to make them aware of conservation. They rely on donations and gate takings and this keeps the park open plus allows them to bring school children to the park for free. The children stay for the day and are taught about conservation. Check out their website at http://www.fijiwild.com/ for more on what they do.

4) The ISSUES

a) There is a LOT of litter in the waterways

b) Suva Harbour was full of Taiwanese fishing vessels (and many Fiji schools are financed by Taiwan)

c) It is difficult for people who have little income to not fish their reef, even if it is an MPA

d) There is a very real concern and effort to address the unsustainable harvesting of the reefs

e) MPA’s are being established in several areas, but community engagement is difficult

f) Crown of Thorns starfish are seen in large numbers on many of Fiji’s reefs

Jeannie’s story showcases some fantastic conservation efforts happening in FIJI. On the strength of which OCCI has decided to contribute a donation to the Kula Eco-park. Thanks Jeannie for these insights on a great networking trip holiday.

5 September 2009