Waitabu Marine Park Blog

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Please support Fiji's Miss Hibiscus at the South Pacific pageant. She is championing the Fiji Shark Campaign as part of her bid to become Miss South Pacific. This is a great way for us to get the message out! Please spread this on all your Facebook, Bebo, Google + and Twitter networks! You can support her by voting for her at : misssouthpacificpageant.ws/about-us/contestants-2011.html . You can do it once a day so come back again and again to assist the effort of protecting sharks in Fiji. Miss Hawaii is FAR ahead at the moment, let's get Miss Fiji up there! FIJI SUN Save our sharks, Miss Fiji to tell pageant writer : SITERI SAUVAKACOLO Reigning Miss Vodafone Hibiscus Alisi Rabukawaqa will advocate for the stop to the exploitation of sharks across commercial fisheries at the Miss South Pacific Pageant in Samoa next week. Hibiscus Event Group Executive secretary Aqela Cakobau in a statement said Miss Rabukawaqa would use the pageant as a platform to advocate for shark pr...

The Sea Save Foundation Holiday Auction is now open! The proceeds will go to Sea Save Foundation in order to support ocean conservation. Auction items range from exotic diving vacation getaways, diving equipment and gear, underwater photography courses by noted oceanographers, and incredible hand crafted works of art guaranteed to delight and surprise. So, tell your friends, family, and community. Let the bidding begin! Sea Save Foundation - Auction Home Page - BiddingForGood Fundraising Auction

SHARKMAN Manoa Rasigatale moved an inch close to his dream - thanks to Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming. The recently-retired NBA giant has joined the worldwide campaign against the shark fin trade, which has pushed the ancient species to the brink of extinction. Yao's decision is a big boost for campaigners such as the Sharkman, who is lobbying for legislation to ban the fishing of sharks in Fiji's waters. Like the move in California to remove shark fin soup off the menu, Yao wants his fellow countrymen to stop eating this top-of-the-range dish. After the fins are sliced off, sharks are discarded back into the ocean. Their speed diminished, maneuverability affected, they sink to the bottom where they are condemned to a slow, agonising death. "Oqo na mate vakaloloma (this is such a pitiful death)," says Rasigatale. "It is so sad that Fijian fishermen who are in this trade have forgotten our special relationship with the sharks. "It is our duty to protec...

Time may not be on the side of the sharks. But as numbers dwindle to worrying figures, this evening will see the launch of an awareness campaign to save them. The event, which will be attended by the Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, is set for Village 6 cinemas in Suva. It will include the screening of a 30-minute documentary titled Shark Hope. The film, says Sharkman Ratu Manoa Rasigatale , is about the plight of Fiji's sharks and the campaign to protect them. It deals with the vital role of the shark in our marine environment. Fear them or feel sorry for them. Emotional attachments will mean nothing if we are not aware of their plight. The shark has existed for 415 million years, having survived the changes of time which the dinosaurs, appearing 185 million years later, could not. Today some species of sharks are on the verge of extinction. This has been brought about by the international demand for shark fin, shark meat and liver oil. The Fiji Times is proud to be associat...

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...