In addition, Wayne and his team had engineered and installed a marine beacon at the main entrance to Moon Reef, the beacon was funded by the SEA LIFE London Aquariumand WDCS International. We want to mount a sign on the top of the beacon that has information about the Marine Protected Area (MPA) and the behavioural guidelines for visitors to the reef, which is critical resting habitat for the resident Spinner dolphins.

During my visit, Charles asked me if I’d found anyone to make the MPA sign for us and I told him that we’d been given an astronomical quote from one Company so far. Charles then very kindly called a friend of his, Tony Philp who owns a fibreglass manufacturing and boat-building business. To my utter surprise, Tony told Charles that as it was for conservation and a good cause, he’d make us something for no charge! After I got over the shock and having thanked Charles profusely, I went straight round to Tony’s factory where he met me, with his Brother David. After we went over the specifications and design, none of which phased Tony in the slightest, he told me we’d have the piece by tomorrow!

So on behalf of South Pacific Projects, WDCS International and the community of Dawasamu in Tailevu, we’d like to say a huge thank you to Tony and David (and Charles!) for your kindness and generousity.

Howard Foster, Suva

I came to Fiji to complete a two-week volunteer Spinner dolphin research project at Moon Reef. Howard Foster (founder of South Pacific Projects) and Dr. Cara Miller (Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society International) had designed the project and are now collaborating with Global Vision International to provide volunteer opportunities. After a few days of working on this project, Howard learned that I wished to stay in Fiji for a longer period and he then mentioned the possibility of some additional work for me following the dolphin project. In the final days at Moon Reef, Howard offered me an internship with South Pacific Projects and gave me some examples of the work we might be doing during my time with the organisation. This was exactly what I had hoped for, as I had over two months left in Fiji and wanted to further my skills and experience in conservation work.

The first task of my internship was to help organise and map out the ‘Whale of a Ride 2’ cycling fundraiser which is to be completed around the coastline of Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu. We travelled the cycling route, mapping out every incline, decline, gravel section, bridge and suitable lunch or water stop area along the way. We also had to check out all viable accommodation options for the cyclists whilst we travelled along. Accommodation had to be suitable for a weary cyclist to recover enough for the next day of riding, so a certain level of comfort was a must. One of these accommodation stops provided us with a more than comfortable experience as well as two amazing scuba dives in the new Vatu-i-Ra Passage MPA. The Resort was called Volivoli and the owner, Nick darling, was really helpful and interested in supporting the bike ride. Whilst diving, we met some lovely Americans who were staying at Volivoli on a dive holiday. All of them had in excess of a thousand dives under their (weight) belts. They were very friendly and more than willing to give a novice such as myself, some highly valuable tips towards improving my diving skills.

Whilst continuing to map the cycling route, we returned to Suva with a pile of catch up work to be completed and spent a long day getting ourselves organised and back on track. Part of this included organising a meeting with His Excellency the President’s Chief Secretary. If anyone had told me that I would be organising to meet with the President of Fiji and being associated with numerous newspaper articles before I had left Australia, I’m sure I wouldn’t have believed them. Still here I am, still a little unable to believe it, or the amount I have achieved in so short a time in Fiji.

From Suva we travelled back to Nadi, making many a stop, meeting some great people, trying to spread the word about our cause and getting people interested and behind the cycling fundraiser. I seemed as though we had successfully roped some people in without much effort. We got back to Nadi and so completed our circuit of Viti Levu and the route notes for the bike ride. Four hundred and ninety seven kilometres worth of cycling to be completed over seven days! I am very interested in taking part in the ride myself, however having seen the route in person, I will admit it appeared a little daunting. As I am due home in May, the timing of the ride is yet to tell whether I will be able to commit to it.

After completing this route, we stayed in Nadi for a couple of days, compiling information, posting and updating websites and photos on Facebook to let the world know about our efforts and the successful and great work just completed during the Spinner dolphin project at Moon Reef. We were also coming to grips with the logistics of the bike ride ensuring the days were spread as evenly as possible exertion wise. I will certainly need some training up if I am to complete it! After what seemed like a long stay in Nadi, we were off on the Flyer ferry to the Yasawas. This was a very welcome change of scenery. Whilst getting onto the ferry was a bit hectic and left me frazzled, the journey was very relaxed and our arrival at the Blue Lagoon Beach Resort blew my mind. The scenery was very beautiful, postcard beautiful. It was what one thinks of when you picture Fiji- white sandy beaches, coconut trees and deck chairs welcoming you to swim and sunbathe. But we were here to work, honest! We were at the Resort to check out one of two shark dives available to tourists in Fiji. Our aim was to determine the conservational and educational benefits that were currently being gained from the activity, as well as gauge tourist perception of it and see whether this could be improved. I created a feedback form for guests who completed the dive to fill out, leaving any additional comments they thought were necessary. We sat down after the dive and discussed our purpose for being there and got everyone to fill out the feedback forms. Most people were very interested in our work and more than happy to help us out by providing their opinions. More positively, most of them gave out their emails to receive further information and updates on our progress.  The results were very interesting, most of them revolving around the want for an increase in shark information provision prior to the dive. Personally, I very much favoured this as I believe it would highly improve the dive experience as I had not really known what I was looking at and therefore had encountered the same situation on my first dive with the sharks. On my second shark dive, I knew much better what I was seeing which made it a lot more rewarding.

The shark dive from my perspective is a great thing. Although there are several negatives associated with feeding sharks for tourism purposes, I think it will be beneficial overall to shark conservation in the area to change the negative perception so many people have of sharks. I saw areas for improvement, but with the very strong interest the Dive staff at Blue Lagoon Beach Resort exhibited, I don’t see any issues with such improvements being implemented and quickly at that. Still, the success of such a project is very much determined by local community participation and cooperation. In order to ensure the locals were on board with this shark conservation, we were aiming to set up an account where some of the funds from the diving payments would be deposited and then be used to educate the local school towards shark and marine conservation. To formalise this interest, we met with the paramount Chief. He was very positive towards this idea and was more than willing to give his assistance to make it happen.

Much as it sounds it, the time spent in the Yasawas wasn’t all hard work. When not working on the shark dive, time was spent snorkelling, diving and relaxing by the sea. This lifestyle was endured a little longer than planned as our stay was extended by a day not once but twice and eventually we spent six days on the island. Unfortunately, as all good things have to come to an end in what seemed like no time at all, we were back on the Flyer and headed back to Nadi. The time had come again collect together all the information we had gained, put pen to paper and get stuck into some real work to get things going. I am really looking forward to seeing the positive outcomes from our collaboration on the shark dive and will be happy to return in a couple of week’s time to launch this exciting new conservation project.

Sarah Cordell, Melbourne

I was recently given the opportunity to go out to Moon Reef in Tailevu with Howard, the Global Vision International volunteers, and Dr Cara Miller of the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society International to work on the Spinner Dolphin Project for two weeks. This was a huge boost for me as I am currently doing my postgraduate studies at the University of the South Pacific in Conservation and Biodiversity, specifically Advanced Biogeography and this gave me a lot of research experience and material to work with.

After speaking with Howard again I was presented with the possibility for The SEA LIFE London Aquarium to sponsor my further studies at the University of the South Pacific while I carry out my Postgraduate Diploma. I am very grateful for this opportunity and this is a clear indication of the SEA LIFE London Aquarium’s commitment to marine conservation and capacity building in small island nations such as Fiji. I look forward to working closely with the London Aquarium and South Pacific Projects on future marine conservation and research initiatives in Fiji and elsewhere in the Pacific region.

Vinaka vakalevu,

Alisi Rabukawaqa, Fiji

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Papua New Guinea is widely considered by marine scientists to be the biodiversity hotspot in the Pacific region. As well as many species of cetacean, the remote coral reefs and incredibly diverse marine life of Papua New Guinea draw researchers and recreational divers from all over the world. Dr. Miller and SPP will visit the island of Manus in May this year with Vagi to plan logistics for the new initiative. The best time of year for observing cetaceans around Manus Island is between October and January, which also happens to be the time of year for good weather and calm seas, crucial when conducting boat-based research. SPP will keep you updated with progress on new developments and is already very excited that most of the recent participants in our pilot Spinner dolphin project in Fiji have already agreed to sign up for the new Papua New Guinea project, showing that Sarah, Charlotte, Isabelle, Mary and Kavi all have a commitment to adventuring off the beaten track in the name of whale and dolphin conservation!

Howard Foster – Yasawa Islands, Fiji

From the first day it was just a blur of great company, great food and coming from a local it may seem biased but the beauty of the environment here in Fiji never ceases to amaze and inspire me.  We had training conducted by Dr Cara Miller explaining the finer details of what we were trying to obtain observing these dolphins, their behavior, acoustics and photo identification and what I really enjoyed was how she was determined to teach us practically, so from the beginning she had the volunteers out on the boat at Moon Reef doing the work rather than just learning it in a room.

Each day brought its own excitement because while the dolphins were our main objective we got side tracked a few times by pods of Minke whales travelling past the Moon Reef MPA. After observations were done we usually had about half an hour to snorkel at the outer fringes of the reef and the rich biodiversity had me craving for more each time we made our way back to the Eco-lodge and I personally got a little thrill out of spotting the reef sharks that made a home on the outskirts of Moon Reef. Every evening was an opportunity to sit together and talk about the excitement of the surveying work and learn a bit more about each other and I may have mentioned it already but the amazing food was always a plus and would have us sitting at the table way before it was ready. For all we came to do and all that we saw and learnt for me the most fulfilling part was the day we visited Navunisea District School to speak to the children.  I always feel that any work as such being done needs to start from the grass roots and involve the entire demographic in particular young people. We spoke about the conservation efforts being undertaken, the research being done and explaining the importance of all this work for them.    Although we were there to teach them I was happily surprised to see that they already knew quite a fair bit.  They are the ones who would be continuing the work long after we were gone and the knowledge and passion they already had encouraged me greatly.

I must thank the SEA LIFE London Aquarium for the funding that allowed me to take part in this research opportunity and a thank you to Howard Foster for allowing me to be a part of this project.  An added bonus for me which I feel I must add is that I am doing my post graduate studies at the University of the South Pacific in Conservation and Biodiversity, specifically on Advanced Islands Biogeography and through this I was able to get a study site and focus my research.  So, this experience has done more for me and I hope that I can reciprocate and give as much if not more than what I have gained.  Natalei, Tikina Dawasamu of Tailevu will always hold a very special place in my heart and I look forward to returning.

Vinaka Vakalevu.

Alisi Rabukawaqa – Reigning Miss Fiji and current Miss South Pacific, Fiji

I got to Fiji a couple of days ahead of the project to allow me to get some sort of bearings in the culture of this new destination. The projects small group met up to commence the project in Nadi and we were greeted by our very enthusiastic Project Manager, Howard Foster. We all sat around a table with respective beverages and ran through the project and briefly and began to get to know each other. This session continued onto dinner where we further discussed the project, our backgrounds and our interest in the project. The group was very mixed in regards to the volunteers’ ages, nationalities and careers however we all had one common interest, a passion to study the unique Spinner Dolphin population of Moon Reef.

The next morning we set off to Suva and then the Dawasamu tikina to our projects destination at the Natalei Eco Lodge via a scenic route around Viti Levu’s coast. Upon arrival at the lodge we were greeted by the very friendly staff. We were also then introduced to the brains behind the project, Dr. Cara Miller.

We eagerly started the next morning with Cara discussing in detail the project and our part to play in it. We went over our training in theory and then in the afternoon we put it to practice as we headed out to Moon Reef for our first observations of the dolphins. Without fail, the dolphins made their appearance within the reef and certainly did not fail to meet the group’s expectations as we were soon struck by the personality of these cetaceans. It wasn’t long until the dolphins showed us how they had gained their name by stunning us with their spins as well as other numerous fascinating social behaviour. Our first observations of the dolphins had been very satisfying and or efforts over the following days were continuously met with impressive displays. We completed our audio, behaviour and identification observations on the reef with a trip or two a day, broken up with some great activities including snorkelling outside the reef, hiking to a local waterfall for a refreshing cool dip and enjoying the Fijian culture. The evenings were spent entering data, watching cetacean documentaries ‘enjoying’ kava, socializing and generally relaxing.

The local interest, which was so crucial to the project’s success, was made evident to the group evident with a visit from the Fiji Times who came to report and spread awareness on the project’s efforts. The local Fijians also showed a strong interest in increasing their scientific knowledge to complement their relationship with the land and enable them to continue conservation efforts within the reef after the project’s completion.

Working amongst people with similar interest is not only highly satisfying but also very inspiring as it gives hope towards a better future and the conservation of not only the Spinner Dolphins studied in this project but also biodiversity worldwide. I have found this project to be very rewarding and the group of people on the project was great to spend time with. I was continuously inspired by the other volunteers’ experiences both relating to similar projects and their general life experiences. Spending time amongst similar minded people is also a great way of finding out what other opportunities there are out there. There was also the great opportunity to draw knowledge from Kara’s extensive knowledge. The locals enthusiasm was very hopeful. Spending time with them and hearing their perspective on the dolphins and the potential ecotourism opportunity that may arise was a great experience.

I would definitely recommend participation on this project to anyone with an interest in conservation of marine, aquatic or terrestrial wildlife or ecosystems. Despite the close proximity of Fiji to home, there is definitely a strong cultural difference in Fiji compared to the western world however, pushing ones boundaries can be the best thing you can do and is one of the sure ways of making a difference. It is also very important to experience another way of life, and where better a place to do this than in tropical Fiji?! At only the halfway point, I am sure there will not be a dull moment and I highly anticipate the remaining experiences I will gain from this work.

Sarah, Melbourne via Wagga Wagga – Australia

Ambassadors of the Honor Fiji Journey at USP last night in Suva

In June this year, South Pacific Projects and GVI are offering adventurous and conservation-minded people the  chance to participate in a once in a lifetime event, the Fiji Cycle Challenge for World Oceans Day. This unique challenge will see a group of brave cyclists tackle the mountainous terrain of Fiji’s largest island of Viti Levu, cycling around the whole of this beautiful Pacific island in just six days. On our journey we will face tropical heat, humidity, rainstorms, hill climbs through the rainforest and sections of rough unpaved road. But the camaraderie that we forge by working together as a team will help us overcome each of these obstacles to achieve our goal, to arrive in the Capital City of Suva on World Oceans Day, June 8th 2012, to celebrate our success.

Joining us on the ride will be the reigning Miss South Pacific and current Miss Vodafone Fiji Hibiscus, Alisi Rabukawaqa. Alisi is a Graduate in Marine Science from the University of the South Pacific and currently studying for her Postgraduate Diploma in Biodiversity & Conservation. Donations and funds raised by the challenge group will be equally divided between the Whale & Dolphin Society International and the Honor Fiji Journey, details below:

HONOR FIJI promotes stewardship of the ocean to revive and preserve indigenous ways of life and rich maritime traditions. The Honor Journey is a programme that people of all nations and backgrounds can take part in and involves the particpation of international youth. His Excellency the President of Fiji, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau is Patron of the Honor Fiji Journey and coincidentally is also the Patron of the Fiji Cycling Association who are helping us to organise the ride!

WDCS International Support the fantastic work being done to protect whales and dolphins in the Pacific by WDCS Pacific Programme Manager, Dr. Cara Miller. Cara is a Research Fellow at the University of the South Pacific and a strong advocate for community engagement and capacity bulding in Fiji. She has had great success working to empower local communities to establish sustainable dolphin watching activities and was instrumental in establihing the first Marine Protected Area in Fiji specifically designed to protect marine mammals, in this case, a resident pod of Spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris).

Full details of how you can particpate in the Fiji Cycle Challenge and support conservation efforts for World Oceans Day will be released soon, watch this space!

Howard Foster – Suva, Fiji

‘HONOR FIJI is a transformational journey in honor of the great Cultural Legacy of Fiji while promoting stewardship of the land and water. A strong focus is on the youth, empowering them as keepers of their traditions, to participate in the movement for sustainability and positive change in the global arena, and to reach their highest potential. The Honor Fiji Journey is a journey of the human spirit in reverence and preservation of our cultural and natural heritage. A focus is to create awareness regarding the vital importance Indigenous Peoples have in the greater circle of humanity. Coinciding with World Oceans Day celebrations, the Honor Fiji Journey is a collective effort of many partners on behalf of our youth and our beautiful oceans; however, the ECONESIAN SOCIETY serves as the non-profit and lead organization for the HONOR FIJI JOURNEY.’

South Pacific Projects is proud to be associated with such an ambitious and inspirational project and looks forward to a successful partnership with the Econesians and the Honor Fiji Journey.

Howard Foster – Suva, Fiji

Quite recently after winning the Miss South Pacific Pageant which was held in Samoa in December 2011, I was once again presented with a great opportunity when I met Howard Foster, the Director of South Pacific Projects.  Howard organised a refresher dive for me with Greg Buxton, the owner of the Suva Diving Club. Greg offers professional SCUBA training courses and I accompanied Greg and an adventurous Australian family out to ‘Fish Patch’ Reef to do the refresher course.

Although there had been a 6 year lapse since my last dive, I must admit I wasn’t apprehensive; there was more of a giddiness, to see how much I could still remember; setting up a regulator on the tank? The signs and signals we must know when diving? Conducting all the important safety checks?  But most of all I was eager to get back to this underwater world I had not visited for so long.  No matter how often you watch it on the Discovery channel, read about it and study it, the wonder and beauty of these underwater monoliths never cease to amaze me and I feel every visit is special. The various species of hard coral, soft coral, the fish species in all their different hues, from the fearful ones darting into their safe crevices to the aggressive ones that swim right up to your mask daring you to move an inch closer.  Each holds its own unique beauty and purpose.

The refresher course helped me familiarize myself again with all the skills of diving, it also reaffirmed my belief in the importance of preserving and maintaining this fragile world that is so deeply connected to our livelihoods’ and our culture and so important to our existence, especially in Pacific Island countries.  South Paciifc Projects has invited me to participate in some new marine conservation initiatives being sponsored by the SEA LIFE London Aquarium in Fiji and I hope to get back in the water again soon. I only hope that I can in some small way contribute positively toward conserving Fiji’s marine environment, not only for ourselves but for future generations.

Alisi Rabukawaqa, Fiji

This brings the combined fundraising total for Dr. Cara Miller of WDCS International to £5,724, nearly $16,500FJD! Zeina and I are very grateful to Ross and the other guys at GVI who donated a two week Spinner dolphin Research & Conservation Project which raised £660 during our online fundraising auction recently.

SPP is meeting with Dr. Miller tomorrow to give her the great news and is then heading up to Moon Reef to talk to the community about plans for the Spinner dolphin MPA and new volunteer project due to start in February 2012.

It was gratifying to meet these guys and find that they are all equally pro-active about supporting marine conservation and sustainable community development in the area. Tomorrow I’ll be diving with sharks at a popular local dive site and then working up a proposal for a new research-based shark project. The fact that the three main employers in the region are also all dive operators who collaborate on the recreational diving in the region is a bonus.

Of course it is equally important to engage the local community, especially the fishermen. Community engagement will take priority in the New Year prior to the beginning of the project. Lance, Niko and Justin are already supporting the local community via their tourism businesses by creating employment and providing training, purchasing food from the village and by making a donation to the school for every diver who visits the area to see the sharks.

SPP looks forward to developing a successful shark conservation project with the local stakeholders and will be supplying materials to the SEA LIFE London Aquarium for a new conservation themed display in 2012. SEA LIFE London is working to promote shark conservation and raise awarenes about the global plight of sharks caused by shark-finning. Thanks to GVI Fiji volunteer Andy Schopper for the great images he took on the shark dive!

Howard Foster, Nacula Tikina, Fiji.

This momentous occasion marked the starting point of a new collaboration between SPP, GVI, The Yasawa Trust Foundation, the SEA LIFE London Aquarium and the local community. This unique project has the goal of assisting the five villages of Nacula District to establish community-managed Marine Protected Areas and enable membership of the Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area Network (FLMMA).  There will be an emphasis on awareness-raising through community workshops, development of sustainable management plans for the new MPAs and ongoing monitoring of the MPAs to gauge their relative success.

The meeting opened with community representative Poni Nakia giving the attendees a history of MPAs in Nacula District. We learned that there had been some promising work done in previous years, but that the last projects came to an end in 2006. In the subsequent years, Poni made it clear that there had been on ongoing desire in the community to revive the MPA programme and to develop it further with a partner organisation if possible. GVIs representative Dan Lund first explained how the new GVI marine conservation expedition would benefit from having trained international volunteers who could gather crucial data on the marine resources found in local fishing grounds.

SPP Managing Director and FLMMA partner Howard Foster went on to describe the Marine Resource Inventory (MRI) method of data collection that can provide local communities with the most useful information about their fishing ground. The MRI method, which in this instance will employ GVI Fiji volunteers to gather information about specific ‘targeted’ fish and invertebrate species, complements the community’s traditional knowledge of their fishing grounds. Rather than scientific coral reef monitoring, GVI Fiji will provide data that the community consider most useful, i.e.  Which species that they catch to eat or to sell to provide income are present in their fishing grounds, in what numbers and at which locations?  This information can empower the community to make informed decisions about selecting sites for new MPAs. Howard went on to describe how the SEA LIFE London Aquarium is committed to supporting Marine Protected Areas in Fiji through a sponsorship programme with South Pacific Projects. This programme has already had success this year with the establishment of a community-managed MPA at Moon Reef in Dawasamu District in Tai Levu.

The meeting was a great success, with Poni Nakia stating that he would brief Ratu Epeli, Paramount Chief of the District, about the new plans and the offer of project support from GVI and SPP. The next stage will be for Poni, on behalf of the community, to draft a ‘letter of request for assistance’ which will go via the Provincial Office to be considered by the FLMMA Executive Committee early next year.  Once FLMMA acknowledges the request from the community, SPP will provide some sponsorship via the SEA LIFE London Aquarium to help facilitate the project. GVI Fiji marine conservation volunteers arrive in January 2012 to begin the initial phase of data collection which will go some way to assisting the community to decide which areas may be most appropriate for designating MPAs. We are all looking forward to this exciting new marine conservation project in Nacula District and SPP would like to thank Dan and his Fiji team and all the 2011 GVI volunteers for their hard work this year. With the support of the Yasawa Trust Foundation, GVI has made excellent headway in the Yasawa Islands and has already built a reputation for being a well-managed and effective volunteer organisation.