Waitabu Marine Park Blog

Rückschau: Fidschi Rettung für Korallenriffs Sendeanstalt und Sendedatum: SWR, Sonntag, 22. November 2009 Weltweit lässt der Klimawandel die Meerestemperaturen steigen mit einem verheerenden Kollateralschaden: Die Korallenriffe sterben langsam ab. So auch auf den Fidschi-Inseln im südpazifischen Meer. Das kleine Dorf Waitabu stemmte sich als erste Gemeinde auf den Fidschis gegen die Folgen: Die vorgelagerten Riffe wurden als Naturschutzgebiete ausgewiesen, Touristen und Taucher dürfen nur nach einer ökologischen Einführung zu den Korallen, Fischer müssen ihre Fangtechniken umweltverträglich machen. Seitdem erholen sich die temperatur- und stressempfindlichen Korallen wieder sichtbar. Über 200 Dörfer sind inzwischen dem Beispiel von Waitabu gefolgt und haben Schutzgebiete angelegt – mit der Hoffnung, dass ein gesundes Riff der Erwärmung der Meere zumindest länger standhält. Bildunterschrift: Korallenriff ] Anflug auf den In...

Looking back: Fiji Rescue for coral reefs   Broadcasting and broadcast: SWR, Sunday, 22 November 2009 Worldwide climate change affects ocean temperatures to rise slowly with a devastating collateral damage: The coral reefs die. The small village Waitabu braced himself as the first community in Fiji against the consequences: The reefs have been designated as nature reserves, tourists and scuba divers may only after an environmental introduction to the corals, fishermen have to make their environmentally friendly fishing techniques. About 200 villages are now followed the example of Waitabu and have created protected zones - with the hope that a healthy reef can withstand the warming of the seas, at least longer. They are among the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world, they feed people, protect coastlines and bring countries such as Fiji lot of money by tourists. But in a few decades, scientists fear they could be dead. Here below is the work of Helen Sykes. The cor...

Waitabu Marine Park In 1998, the residents of Waitabu Village designated a significant portion of their Qoliqoli, or traditional fishing grounds, as a no-take zone, thus creating one of the first marine protected areas in Fiji. With the dedication of local community leaders in partnership with CORAL and other non-governmental organizations, the Waitabu Marine Park celebrated ten years of healthy coral reefs in 2008. Most recently, CORAL provided a microgrant to Waitabu Marine Park to purchase twenty brand-new masks and snorkels for the snorkel tourism business from which the park earns the bulk of its yearly income. And in an effort to increase camping tourism within the marine park, CORAL provided funds to purchase a lawn mower that park leaders will use to keep camping areas safe and well groomed. Fiji field representative Sirilo “Didi” Dulunaqio was joined by field representative Heidi Williams in 2007, allowing CORAL staff to meet regularly with dive operators, the local communi...

2008 Great Fiji Butterflyfish Count Results presented at the Fiji Islands Conservation Science Forum 5th - 7th August 2009 The 2009 inaugural Fiji Islands Conservation Science Forum (FICSF) provided an excellent platform for the Butterflyfish Count organizing committee to present its findings to the greater scientific and conservation organizations in Fiji as well as to the general public. The presentation was made by Chinnamma Reddy on behalf of the committee. The talk focused on the preliminary analysis of Butterflyfish abundance and species richness compiled from results of the Great Fiji Butterflyfish Count in November last year. The considerably fewer resources required for conducting and receiving wide scale information on species distribution and abundance in Fiji was highlighted and proven through the mass network and support during the Butterflyfish Count event. Mass replication of such surveys reduces variability in results and can be quite successfully utilized for e...

The Wetlands-International Oceania, Wildlife Conservation Society, World Wide Fund, Govt. Fiji, USP and Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area are organising a Fiji Islands Conservation Science Forum from 5 - 7 August 2009 at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Suva, Fiji. The Forum provides the opportunity for students, researchers, scientists, naturalists and scholars to present some of their research findings to the general public. PACINET (Pacific Islands Network for Taxonomy) is planning to coordinate a Systematics/Taxonomy session in support of the FICS forum. All taxonomists (including parataxonomists, ethno-taxonomists and systematics) who have worked on Fijian biodiversity are invited to be part of this inaugural event. For further information contact Posa A. Skelton, Coordinator - PACINET, USP/SPC/SPREP, Suva, Fiji, Tel. +679 3232708 or Mb. +679 908 9286, email: skelton_p@usp.ac.fj or posas@spc.int ANPC News: INTERNATIONAL: Fiji Islands Conservation Science Forum 5 - 7 August 2...

Waitabu Marine Park Knowledgeable local guides lead visitors to the Taveuni reef conservation project . This is an ideal opportunity for keen snorkellers to get a taste of what has made Taveuni Island the ‘soft coral capital of the world’. Taveuni Estates - Own your piece of island paradise - Freehold island real estate in Fiji

Waitabu Marine Park - Waitabu Marine Park - Taveuni Island: Dive or snorkle Fiji's coral reefs to see a myriad of colorful fish, like this Clown Triggerfish. Waitabu Marine Park, off the north coast of Taveuni Island, contains a Marine Protected Area ideal for snorkeling. This park resulted form an agreement of 7 Fijian communities not to fish or anchor in a 1km section of Taveuni's fringing reef. Guided snorkeling tours including snorkeling equipment, refreshments, local musicians and a ride on a Bilibili, a traditional Fijian raft bring a small amount of tourism income to the community of Waitabu. The trip is best done around a morning high tide Established in 1998, the park has already produced dramatic results. Yearly, the community of Waitabu conducts marine surveys according to the Reef Check survey guidelines with the assistance of a local tropical marine biologist. Taveuni Weddings, Fiji Wedding Packages, Fiji Weddings, Taveuni Weddings, Beach Weddings

Traveler Reviews of Waitabu Marine Park Taveuni Island Great snorkelling trip and village visit from StuartTuiTai on 2008-10-12 Thouroughly enjoyed my time at Waitabu. We arrived at 9am and spent a couple of hours snorkeling in the marine park at Waitabu with local guides who knew their stuff. We were poled up to the... Waitabu Marine Park, Taveuni Island, Fiji Reviews - TravelPod

Waitabu Marine Park & Campground Rate It Address: Near Vidawa village, about a 30-minute-drive southeast of Matei, Bouma National Heritage Park, Taveuni Phone: 888-0451 www.bnhp.org Category: Tours Location: Taveuni Fodor's Review: At Waitabu Marine Park & Campground you can swim and snorkel over a fringing reef that has been a marine-protected area (MPA) since 1998, when the Waitabu people and other villages agreed to stop over-fishing. There are guided snorkeling tours using bilibili or traditional bamboo rafts followed by tea and music on the beach. A cheaper option does not include rafts or tea. The campground offers 12 tent sites near the water's edge, and communal cooking and bathroom facilities. It's slightly north of Vidawa village on the coast. Cost: $40 with raft and tea, $20 without. Camping $10 per person per night Waitabu Marine Park & Campground Review | Taveuni | Fodor...

Waitabu Marine Park This area of Taveuni has been awarded the “International British Airways Eco-Tourism Award". White sand beaches, great snorkeling, bilibili rafts, Fijian village life and much more... This half day excursion will begin with a beautifully scenic drive to the Eastern side of the island. Upon arrival at Waitabu Village you will be welcomed into village life over morning tea that has been prepared by the village women. You will take a most memorable raft trip up the river on a traditional bilibili raft. Extremely knowledgeable, trained guides will snorkel with you to point out and explain the amazing marine life that is found in this area. You will have time to enjoy the excellent snorkeling or just relax on the beach or spend time learning more about Fijian culture from your friendly village guide. Afternoon tea and a kava drinking ceremony accompanied by local island music will be served before returning to Taveuni Palms. Please kindly note that you dress modestl...

Oh it was just awesome....hearing the sound of the waves as you sleep in the night, seeing the beautiful stars in the sky and being greated by the beautiful view of the early morning sunrise. I would not ask for anything more... Waitabu is the place to be if you are looking for a village experience. You can get a chance to meet the locals with their friendly smiles, drink kava and learn a few fijian dance twists from the village entertainers. Above all you can swim in one Fiji's known marine park. It's just one of a kind experience to go on which definatly you will enjoy. I loved the morning walk on the beach - Review of Waitabu Marine Park and Campground, Taveuni Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor

Waitabu camp-grounds is an absolute delight. From the moment I stepped into the visitor center, I knew there was nothing to be missed from home. During my week long stay at the campsite, I had the opportunity to have a taste of real Fijian cuisine from Waci-poki made out of Taro leaves, pumpkin leaves in coconut milk (was a favorite) to fresh lobster made in a special Waitabu sauce. Of course all these dishes were accompanied by the usual fresh root crops either taro, cassava or wild yams. There are self-cooking facilities in the kitchen but what better way to experience Fijian food then to taste some made by them in their special ways. The tents were spacious and comfortable and it is an experience not be missed to wake up to see the sun rising from the comfort of my air-bed and inside the tent!. Truly a magical experience. Swimming in and amongst the vast array of tropical marine life was truly a blessing. The rich color of branching and boulder corals in the Marine Park reflecte...

Waitabu Marine Park Tour Tour Description: Waitabu Marine Park is a reef conservation success story. Visitors experience excellent snorkelling to see the transformation made to the marine life since the establishment of the park in 1998. Trained guides will snorkel with the tour and will point out and explain interesting sites. The half-day (5 hour Fijian time) trip should NOT be missed during your visit to Taveuni. Note this trip is subject to weather & tides. If the sea conditions are unsuitable the trip will be cancelled or postponed. Costs — FD $50 pp — Trip suitable for visitors aged 12 years and over Cost includes: — Snorkelling equipment — ' Bilibili ', Fijian raft ride — Local guides with intimate understanding of the natural area — Morning or afternoon tea & village refreshments, prepared by the women of the Waitabu Village What to Bring: — Sandals or running shoes for the lunch — Swimwear & cameras — Water bottle & sunscreen — Hat & sung...

Waitabu Marine Park ( Full Day Adventure ) Swim and snorkel in the Waitabu Marine Park. Experience the beauty of marine life in abundance as all marine parks should be. We protect it. During fish feeding time, sight of fish in a frenzy during meal time is awesome. Diving Fiji Scuba Vacation : Diving Taveuni : Taveuniadventures.com

MARITIME - Waitabu marks marine park anniversary www.fijidailypost.com - 6-Jun-2008 Sai's Comment: - This is a great example of how naive Fijians could also contribute to preserving their environment while generating some earnings from their natural resources. Am proud to have met people involved in the Waitabu project when in NZ from the contributions of the NZ government. Am more proud to learn that my island of Yacata have just recently also designated a part of the fishery around the island as a marine reserve. Great effort and leadership by those on the island. TWENTY years ago the villagers of Waitabu on the north-eastern coast of Taveuni would never give a second thought about their reefs or what dwelled on their shores. They walk on the reefs breaking the corals and take home whatever they can eat no matter how small they are.There was heavy algal or seaweed growth because there was no more fish to feed on it.The state of the Waitabu village coast was so pathetic that at ...

The people of Waitabu really make this experience perfect - true Fijian hospitality at its best. The facilities include showers, flushing toilets and a kitchen, or you can choose to have delicious home cooked local foods. These, coupled with the campground being situated right on the beautiful sandy beach make for a wonderful holiday . The tour of the Marine Park is fabulous, and other adventures, such as rain forest hike and stunning waterfalls are just a short walk away. We had so much fun there and were made to feel so welcome, will definitely be going back! Highly recommended. A REAL slice of Paradise! - Review of Waitabu Marine Park and Campground, Taveuni Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor

The 2008 version of the Reef Resilience (R2) Toolkit is now available. The Toolkit provides coral reef managers with guidance on building resilience to climate change into the design of MPAs and daily management activities. Check it out for updated recommendations based on new science and lessons learned directly from coral reef managers. The Toolkit is divided into two modules; both follow the same structure. Learn more about the R2 Toolkit and how to use it, or go directly to one of the modules, Coral Reefs and Fish Spawning Aggregations . Reef Resilience — Resources for Coral Reef Managers

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Sustainable Fijian Reef Resources Inc. (Sasalu Tawamudu) is a state-of-Georgia registered not-for-profit corporation with US IRS 501(c)3 status for tax deductible donations. It was founded by Dr. Bill Aalbersberg, the Director of Applied Sciences at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, Dr. Kirk Bowman, a professor of international affairs at Georgia Tech, and Dr. Terry Snell, a biology professor at Georgia Tech. Aalbersberg, Bowman, and Snell are part of an international team of scientists and researchers who are funded by the Fogarty Center of the US National Institutes of Health to work on drug discovery, conservation, and sustainable economic development in Fiji. Sustainable Fijian Reef Resources is a culmination of part of that work and combines local knowledge from Fijian stakeholders, cutting edge science on reef health, market dynamics, local community activism, and internet marketing. The Board of Directors all serve without any compensation of any kind. Due to gene...

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said the towns and cities which have jurisdiction over marine protected areas are undervaluing themselves by charging small fees. This leads to both a massive and unmanageable influx of local and foreign tourists that usually lead to the destruction of natural resources and lack of funds for proper management. Citing the efforts of El Nido in Palawan, which has raised the access fee compared with other destinations Secretary Durano pointed out that tourists continued to come in droves. By imposing “the right price,” the volume of people would drop to manageable levels, while the attraction can get better protection and the community well-compensated, Durano claims. “There is a certain level of the price that will put a limit on the people and yet make the attraction still competitive.” By imposing the right amount of fees and charges, the community would be able to sustain its efforts to protect its natural resources. “We must make sure we hav...

From the album: "Taveuni" by Naushad Yakub Waitbau Beach Added August 10 Facebook | Naushad Yakub's Photos - Taveuni

Make a world of difference this Earth Day, 22 April 2009 Earth is a water planet and the planet needs our help. Why? Climate change is a major threat with increased ocean temperatures and ocean acidification impacting fragile underwater environments. Dive for Earth Day is an extraordinary opportunity to take action and help address the underwater issues that concern you most. How can you help? Individual Divers and Water Enthusiasts: Volunteer today! Search for Dive for Earth Day events near you and choose from hundreds of conservation activities that put aquatic issues on the Earth Day map. Dive Professionals and Organisations: Coordinate an event! Organise a coral reef monitoring project, underwater cleanup, AWARE Kids event or AWARE Fish ID Specialty Course. Register online to receive free resources to help make your day a success. About Dive for Earth Day Earth Day raises environmental awareness on a global scale. Since the 30th anniversary of Earth Day in 2000, Proje...

THIRTEEN of the 14 provinces in the country have come to realise the importance of marine life to the human food chain. Fiji Locally Managed Marine Areas (FLMMA) network secretariat Margaret Vakalalabure said the marine protected areas initiative was a success and todate, all provinces except Naitasiri have joined in to protect our marine ecosystem. "The initiative is being taken by various communities in the country with the help of FLMMA." They are the ones who came up with the idea because it has to start from that level in order to be effective. There have been a lot of interest shown by the communities and the only province that is yet to join the FLMMA network is Naitasiri," she said. Ms Vakalalabure said some MPA's have been permanently banned from all forms of fishing while other areas were just temporary. At present, the Network consists of representatives from the Ministry of Fisheries, Department of Environment, Department of Indigenous Affairs, Mini...

Recognize anybody? Ten BAD Boys and Girls and six Gentlemen from Waitabu Marine Park have spent three days learning about Reef Ecology and Fiji's Fisheries Law, courtesy of the Coral Reef Alliance who fronted the costs for the Taveuni gang and SRMR and BAD who organized & financed the whole gig. Our thanks go to the Department of Fisheries , foremost to the Director, Commander Naqali for having accepted to run the course and for having sent us a team of brilliant lecturers. All the participants have assured me that they have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and learned heaps in the process! The result? 16 brand new Fish Wardens ! These are sort of "Park Rangers" who are given full authority by the Government to enforce the Fisheries Law. They can arrest poachers, inspect cargo, even confiscate catches and boats - great for monitoring and enforcing the fishing ban in our respective Marine Protected Areas! Fisheries tell me that they would welcome more such coop...

Marine reserves are widely used throughout the world to prevent overfishing and conserve biodiversity, but uncertainties remain about their optimal design. The effects of marine reserves are heterogenous. Despite theoretical findings, empirical studies have previously found no effect of size on the effectiveness of marine reserves in protecting commercial fish stocks. Using 58 datasets from 19 European marine reserves, we show that reserve size and age fo matter. Increasing the size of the no-take zone increases the density of commercial fishes within the reserve compared with outside; whereas teh size of the buffer zone has the opposite effect. Moreover, positive effects of marine reserve on commercial fish species and species richness are link to the time elapsed since the establishment of the protection scheme. The reserve size-dependency of the respinse to protection has strong implications for the spatial management of coastal areas because marine reserves are used for spatial zon...

February came and it was time again for the Marine Ecology team to head out to Waitabu village for their annual biological monitoring of the Waitabu Marine Park. This year’s survey was both fun and quite successful. Despite the slightly few wet days at the beginning of the week, spirits remained alive through the week and we completed all surveys as per schedule. Helen and I were joined by Rosemary Dautei from Reef Safari’s , Rachel Dacks, Nic Turrentine, Natalie Parker, John Leonard, Leslie Currie and Grace Yeung (posted in the village) of Peace Corps Fiji. To be part of the week long activities was an experience for them and an opportunity for us to exchange ideas and share experiences.  The village team of 11 volunteers were disciplined; excellent surveyors who definitely knew their stuff. Together we made a really dynamic team out of the Peace Corps , village surveyors and me, most of the time making sure we were doing it right. All this went on while Helen counted fish a...

This is going to be short.....pressed for time. John and I are back from our trip to Taveuni Island for the Reef Monitoring workshop we participated in. We had a great time with Grace, Rachel, Natalie, Nic and the local volunteers. In total we spent four days in the water practising various reef monitoring techniques . We spent an additional day at Nic's village, Waitabu , checking out the village-based tourism project he working on. We jumped off of a 50 ft waterfall. In fact, I was the first FRE-6 Peace Corps volunteer to take the plunge :) I still hurt from the jump. I am pretty sure Natalie will never be the same. Expect pictures and maybe even a video soon. Leslie & John in Fiji: The Update

In Memory of an Ocean Champion and Fearless Friend Vasemaca Rarabici Fiji Program Associate , Asia Pacific Program, SeaWeb May 17, 1975 – December 30, 2008 Va Rarabici with her daughter, Annie. Suva, Fiji, April 2008. Betty Oala, SeaWeb Vasemaca Rarabici joined SeaWeb in early 2007 after a successful career as a journalist in Fiji, where she worked for the three local daily newspapers and rose to the rank of deputy editor of the Fiji Sun and later the Sunday editor of the Fiji Times . At SeaWeb, Va discovered a powerful outlet for her love of her islands and for her well-honed communication skills. Indeed, despite a prolonged illness, Va’s passion and dedication helped build a foundation for SeaWeb’s success in the Asia Pacific for years to come. For those who knew her,...

20th of January 2009 PRESS RELEASE Tourism Fiji in collaboration with key industry partners including the Fiji Islands Hotel and Tourism Association (FIHTA), Society of Fiji Travel Associates (SOFTA) and Air Pacific confirmed that the necessary infrastructure, facilities and equipment to operate Fiji’s Tourism industry has been largely unaffected by the recent flooding with only minor damage reported by member Hotels, Resorts, Transport, Transfer and Cruise Operators, and International and Domestic airlines. The industry is unified in its efforts and working hard to reassure visitor’s considering travel to Fiji to take advantage of Fiji’s tropical climate, excellent deals and of course to enjoy Fiji’s biggest asset – it’s warm, friendly people. Key strategies to lure visitors to our shores include wide ranging familiarization visits commencing early next week to key tourism areas by prominent Travel Wholesalers, Travel Agents and Trade Press to demonstrate first hand the experienc...

THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE SHARK … was inspired by the finding that at the current rate, common shark species will be extinct in 10 to 15 years. In large regions, species that were once numerous have fallen to 1% of their original numbers. Studies of open ocean sharks estimate 80 to 90% of heavily fished species are gone. Yet these intelligent animals, also called the “Wolves of the Sea” are still fished intensively, and finned for “shark fin soup.” The oceans have evolved over hundreds of millions of years with sharks as apex predators, so their loss will destroy oceanic health. HELP SPREAD THE WORD: SAVE SHARKS FROM EXTINCTION 2009 - Year Of The Shark