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Community
Our community partners
This project has been developed in response to the specific aims of our partners to support and expand community stewardship of the reefs by increasing resource user knowledge and understanding of coral reef ecosystems, thereby allowing local people to become more involved in the protection and sustainable use of their marine resources.
In addition and as a part of our marine conservation expeditions, volunteers will carry out socio-economic surveys with the permission of local people and with the assistance of FLMMA and the Department of Fisheries. We are also developing new eco-tourism projects in the region that will hopefully attract the UK and USA tourism market and create employment opportunities for the local community.
The ‘sevusevu’ ceremony is incredibly important in Fiji and we ensure that we present each of our groups to community Chiefs and elders at the earliest opportunity during the expedition. Represented by Taioni form the South pacific Projects team, we show our respect and ask permission to enter the village by presenting some kava, also known as yaqona and grog, the dried root of a pepper plant that is found in several islands of the South Pacific.
Kava plays an important role in Fijian culture and the sevusevu ceremony provides a fascinating insight into village etiquette. After the kava has been pounded by hand, it is mixed with water and then offered to the Chief or most prominent member of the community in a polished coconut shell, then it is passed between the visitors until it is finished. You will become familiar with the question “high tide or low tide?” from our Fijian hosts as this means how full you would like your bowl to be!
Our community relationships are one of the most import facets of this project, without the communities backing our research, there is little reason for our presence on the project site or the research that we conduct. We are working with the communities of both the Bau Tikina and the Moturiki Qoliqoli.
The people of Bau utilise the resources of the adjacent marine and terrestrial environments while Moturiki is home to ten communities that are scattered on the islands coastline. The main sources of income of the respective villagers in this region are yaqona, a commercial and artisanal fisheries industry of fish, beche-de-mer (sea cucumber), Trochus (Trochus niloticus) and various other seasonal marine resources including land crabs.
There are also some small farms that sell their crops and meat products in the local markets of Nasouri and Suva on Viti Levu. By working in partnership with our main project partner, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, and the members of the Moturiki Environmental Committee (MEC) we are able to liaise directly with the people that deal directly with all the current environment issues while following the correct and respectful protocol regarding all community interaction.
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