https://fiji.wcs.org RSS feeds for WCS Fiji 60 https://fiji.wcs.org/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10249/Land-owning-unit-secures-lease-agreement-for-the-protection-of-its-forest.aspx#Comments 0 https://fiji.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=3161&ModuleID=24942&ArticleID=10249 https://fiji.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10249&PortalID=82&TabID=3161 https://fiji.wcs.org/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10249/Land-owning-unit-secures-lease-agreement-for-the-protection-of-its-forest.aspx All the hard work and determination of mataqali Nadicake, landowning unit within the village of Kilaka in Kubulau District, Bua Province, paid off after the iTaukei Land Trust Board signed a lease agreement with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) for 99 years to safeguard and ensure the long-term protection of Kilaka forest. This will be the first forest conservation area that will be managed by the community in partnership with WCS, and is a great example of community engagement in forest conservation in Bua Province. The landowning unit has been voluntarily protecting its forest since 2006 and will now be receiving rental payment for Kilaka Forest Conservation Area that covers 402 hectares of native, near-pristine, highly biodiverse forests.  Kilaka Forest is a national priority for Fiji that has received the endorsement of the National Protected Areas Committee. WCS, in consultation with the landowning unit has developed a management plan for the Kilaka Forest Conservation Area that was launched by the Fiji Minister for Forests, Mr Osea Naiqamu in November, 2016 to assist the landowners in protecting the mature native trees greatly sought by logging companies, traditional medicines and the diverse plant species. The Ministry of Forests has also trained two members of the landowning unit who have now become registered forest wardens. These wardens will play a key role in ensuring rules and activities in the management plan are adhered to, observed and closely monitored. WCS Policy Adviser, Ruci Lumelume who has been working with the Kilaka communities says the lease agreement would be the first of its kind in the Bua Province whereby communities are directly involved in the protection of their forests. “The conservation lease signifies a stronger and closer partnership between WCS and the landowning unit Nadicake that holds the tenure for the Kilaka forest,” she said. “The conservation lease ensures that the native indigenous species of trees in the forests are protected and maintained, clean water source is also maintained and sedimentation often caused by logging affecting the coastal areas and reefs downstream is minimised and controlled.” Fiji as signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Kilaka Forest Conservation Area would contribute to Aichi target  11 to protect at least 17% of  terrestrial areas especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes. The forest is an important carbon sink and therefore contributes to Fiji’s commitments on climate change. Kelera Varawa Sun, 09 Jul 2017 23:30:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10249 https://fiji.wcs.org/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10248/Encouraging-mud-crab-fishers-in-Bua-to-sell-quality-crabs.aspx#Comments 0 https://fiji.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=3161&ModuleID=24942&ArticleID=10248 https://fiji.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10248&PortalID=82&TabID=3161 https://fiji.wcs.org/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10248/Encouraging-mud-crab-fishers-in-Bua-to-sell-quality-crabs.aspx For most women mud crab fishers within the districts of Kubulau, Bua, Navakasiga and Lekutu in Bua Province, mud crab collection is part of their everyday lives and a great source of food and livelihoods. Despite the growing demand for mud crabs in the local market, mud crab fishers in these communities need to sell the right size and high-quality mud crabs in order earn a reasonable income. A value chain analysis of the mud crab fishery by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) found that though these communities are selling mud crabs regularly, they are still getting lower prices for their crabs as compared to other fishers who sell at the bigger markets in Viti Levu. In many instances, women are getting lower prices than their male counterparts. WCS has since been working with these communities to improve their livelihoods and to encourage them to have a management plan in place to protect critical mangrove habitats they are reliant on and to ensure that their mud crab fishery is sustainable. Recently, a team including representatives from the Fiji Ministry of Fisheries and a technician from a local mud crab company, The Crab Company (Fiji), visited four districts to teach mud crab fishers techniques to improve the quality of their mud crabs. The workshops were held in Waisa and Navunievu Village. Mud crab fishers were introduced to the following: How to clear proposed area for fattening cages, without causing unnecessary harm to mangroves; Making fattening cages or pens from locally sourced materials; How to assess the quality of a mud crab, and what the market is interested in; Techniques of handling and storing mud crabs in containers Stocking and feeding of mud crabs in cages The mud crab fattening technique ensures fishers add weight to “thin” adult crabs, so they earn more from their sales. This is done by keeping thin mud crabs in cages made of local materials in mangrove areas and feeding these crabs from a few days to two weeks depending on how thin the crabs are. Mud crabs only need one-tenth of their body weight in feed each day to grow and fill out their shell. WCS conservation officer, Margaret Fox who has been working with these communities stressed that the mud crab fattening technique was only for crabs caught within the legal size limit as per Fiji’s Fisheries Act i.e. with a minimum carapace width of 5 inches or 12.5 centimetres. “Also, this fattening technique is not recommended for berried female crabs (crabs with eggs) as these crabs need to be left in the wild and not caught so they could release their eggs to safeguard the sustainability of the mud crab fishery,” she said. Margaret added that participants were amazed at the new techniques they were taught as these would now help them better improve the quality of mud crabs they sell. Kelera Varawa Sun, 09 Jul 2017 23:07:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10248 https://fiji.wcs.org/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10247/Villagers-take-action-to-sustainably-harvest-sea-cucumbers-to-meet-their-livelihoods.aspx#Comments 0 https://fiji.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=3161&ModuleID=24942&ArticleID=10247 https://fiji.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=10247&PortalID=82&TabID=3161 https://fiji.wcs.org/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/10247/Villagers-take-action-to-sustainably-harvest-sea-cucumbers-to-meet-their-livelihoods.aspx For most islands and coastal villages in Fiji, sea cucumbers or sasalu is considered a treasured resource that many have relied on for income for many years. It is a commodity that has been traded by Fijians since the early 1800s and continues today with many communities still heavily relying on it for their livelihoods. High demand from the Asian market has led to it becoming a multi-million dollar industry globally. As a result, more and more communities have been collecting sea cucumbers further afield and to deeper depths with the use of SCUBA gear, and this has led to the severe overexploitation of sea cucumber stocks throughout Fiji. Apart from an awareness program to help communities better understand about the negative impact of overexploiting their sea cucumber stock, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has also embarked on a community support program to assist villagers improve the way they process sea cucumbers so that they can get a better price for their product. The idea being if they can “value-add” and get a higher price, this might take away the pressure to collect large numbers at any one time. WCS is currently working with the villages of Natuvu in Cakaudrove Province and Saolo in Bua Province who have reasonably healthy stocks to implement a community-based sea cucumber management plan to protect their sea cucumber stock by sustainably harvesting. In June 2017, a team led by WCS fisheries officer, Watisoni Lalavanua headed to two villages, Natuvu and Saolo villages to provide training on post-harvest processing of sea cucumbers using regional standards that were developed recently through an ACIAR Project, and in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC). The main objective of the training was to train fishers in best practices of processing sea cucumbers into high-quality bêche-de-mer. More than 60 villagers were part of the training. Participants learned how to handle sea cucumbers while harvesting from the sea, the proper gutting method, and how to cook, salt, smoke and dry the product. Most importantly, they learned how following these best practices would fetch a higher market price, and hence they should not need to harvest so intensely and can afford to reduce their fishing pressure on fast dwindling stocks. The fishers were also given a i-Taukei version of the ACIAR produced sea cucumber processing manual and a DVD for their future reference.   Kelera Varawa Thu, 06 Jul 2017 22:54:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:10247 https://fiji.wcs.org/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9321/Study-Finds-Fijis-Fishing-Communities-Struggling-In-Wake-of-Cyclone-Winston.aspx#Comments 0 https://fiji.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=3161&ModuleID=24942&ArticleID=9321 https://fiji.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=9321&PortalID=82&TabID=3161 https://fiji.wcs.org/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9321/Study-Finds-Fijis-Fishing-Communities-Struggling-In-Wake-of-Cyclone-Winston.aspx Survey highlights food security concerns stemming from loss of fishing infrastructure Recommendations include replacement of low-impact fishing gear and government support to coastal villages   Fishing-dependent communities in Fiji experienced decreased food security and loss of livelihoods in the wake of Cyclone Winston, according to a post-disaster survey conducted by the WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society). In addition to severely impacting the lives of 40 percent of Fiji’s population, the storm also caused nearly $1.5 million in damage to boats and fishing equipment vital to the livelihoods and dietary needs of coastal communities. A post-disaster survey led by WCS at the request of Fiji’s Ministry of Fisheries revealed that consumption of fresh fish in many communities has drastically decreased as a result of the damage caused by the cyclone. The report titled, Impact of Tropical Cyclone Winston on Fisheries-Dependent Communities in Fiji, is the result of recent efforts by WCS and its Fiji-based partners to gauge the impact of the storm on communities most reliant on fishing and to inform national rehabilitation and recovery efforts. “It seems that the damage to fishing infrastructure in many villages has greatly reduced the ability of these communities to secure the marine resources on which they previously depended,” said Dr. Sangeeta Mangubhai, Country Director of the WCS-Fiji Program. “What needs to follow is a recovery program that helps fishers and communities use low-impact fishing gear that will enable them to fish for subsistence.  Additionally, there must be a reduction or halt on the distribution of commercial licenses for fishing at inshore coral reefs, seagrass and mangrove habitats that were severely damaged by the cyclone. At these sites, communities will need alternative livelihoods to give their reefs a fighting chance of recovery.”   Between the months of April and May, researchers from WCS, the Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area Network, University of the South Pacific, the Coral Reef Alliance, and Global Volunteers International surveyed 154 villages that were directly in the path of Cyclone Winston when it made landfall on February 20, 2016. A survey distributed among the affected communities indicated a dramatic decrease in the availability of fresh fish. Instead of eating freshly caught fish six times a week, many coastal households saw their fish consumption drop to less than 2.5 times a week. In Lomaiviti—the province that suffered the highest degree of storm-related damage to fishing gear, freezers, and other equipment—community members could barely manage one meal of fish per week. Coastal communities are also struggling to supply fresh fish to their local schools. The percentage of villages providing fresh fish to schools on Moturkiri Island dropped from 100 to 30 percent; on Koro Island, where previously 60 percent of all villages supplied fish for schools, the percentage of contributing villages dropped to zero. The report presents a ranking system that helps to identify those communities most in need.  It will be used to inform a targeted recovery plan based on the criteria of a community’s ability to restore its livelihoods and fishing activities, and its dependency on fisheries. Some of the recommendations generated by the survey include:  Replacing fishing gear with low impact gear such as hook-and-line to restore food security to pre-cyclone levels; Including gender-specific data of fishing gear ownership in replacement decisions and actions (i.e. spear guns are more likely to be used by men, whereas hook-and-line gear are used largely by women); Considering the ecological impacts to inshore reef habitat before issuing commercial licenses for community fishing grounds; and Providing funds for boat and engine repairs in communities most impacted by the storm. Taking a cross-sectoral approach between different government agencies like agriculture and fisheries, to address food and livelihood needs of coastal villages.   “The data generated by the survey will help government, NGOs and development agencies direct assistance and resources to communities, depending on their degree of need, in a manner that ensures transparency,” added Mangubhai. “It will also help us to restore livelihoods and fisheries in a way that protects the natural resources needed for future stability.”   CONTACT: JOHN DELANEY: (1-718-220-3275; jdelaney@wcs.org) STEPHEN SAUTNER: (1-718-220-3682; ssautner@wcs.org)     Kelera Varawa Sun, 02 Oct 2016 20:03:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:9321 https://fiji.wcs.org/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8930/After-Winston-Assessing-Coral-Reefs-for-Cyclone-Damage-and-Coral-Bleaching.aspx#Comments 0 https://fiji.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=3161&ModuleID=24942&ArticleID=8930 https://fiji.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=8930&PortalID=82&TabID=3161 https://fiji.wcs.org/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8930/After-Winston-Assessing-Coral-Reefs-for-Cyclone-Damage-and-Coral-Bleaching.aspx This is the first in a series of blogs by WCS-Fiji Director Sangeeta Mangubhai assessing the damage to coral reefs caused by Cyclone Winston, a Category 5 storm that hit Fiji on February 20. Click here for more Kelera Varawa Mon, 16 May 2016 19:46:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:8930 https://fiji.wcs.org/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8582/Mud-crabs-what-are-they-really-worth.aspx#Comments 0 https://fiji.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=3161&ModuleID=24942&ArticleID=8582 https://fiji.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=8582&PortalID=82&TabID=3161 https://fiji.wcs.org/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8582/Mud-crabs-what-are-they-really-worth.aspx Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Department of Fisheries staff are partnering up a second time this year to look at seafood supply chains in Fiji. Learning from our experience with the sea cucumbers, we are conducting a series of surveys to understand and map out the mud crab fishery in Bua Province all the way from the fisher to consumer. Kelera Varawa Thu, 25 Feb 2016 00:10:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:8582 https://fiji.wcs.org/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8581/Safeguarding-wildlife-in-Lomaiviti-province.aspx#Comments 0 https://fiji.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=3161&ModuleID=24942&ArticleID=8581 https://fiji.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=8581&PortalID=82&TabID=3161 https://fiji.wcs.org/Blog/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8581/Safeguarding-wildlife-in-Lomaiviti-province.aspx A traditional fisherman, Rusiate Valenitabua instinctively knows the spawning seasons of different marine animals, fishing techniques unique to his village as well as the role that mangroves play in sheltering communities. From the coastal village of Nukui in Rewa, Rusiate Valenitabua now lives in Lomaiviti as the newly appointed provincial conservation officer. Kelera Varawa Thu, 25 Feb 2016 00:07:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:8581