Waitabu Marine Park Blog

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...