News from Marine Ecology Consulting in Fiji
News from the office and in the field...
FLMMA and CI sign MOU
12 June 2006
Picture 1 : Helen Sykes signing for FLMMA
Picture 1 : Helen Sykes shaking hand with Ms
Company Expands with new Field Biologist
1st October 2006
marine ecology consulting is pleased to announce that operations are so busy that they have expanded.
Ms Chinnamma Reddy Ms Reddy graduated from the University of the South Pacific in April 2006 with honours in Marine Biology. The following 6 months have been occupied as a Graduate Intern within the company. This has involved field work on EIA's, monitoring of tourism properties and statistical analysis of datasets from MPA's.
Ms Reddy excelled in all her projects and tasks so much so that she has been employed as marine ecology consulting's first full time USP trained Field Biologist.
Waitabu Marine Park
The Waitabu Marine Park was established in 1998 in an agreement of over 7 Fijian communities not to fish or anchor in the 1 km of selected fringing reef.
Aside from the small tourism
business this MPA has provided a first hand example of the power of
conservation, generating larger fish catches and increased bio diversity in the
surrounding waters.
The Waitabu Marine
Park offers 2 guided tours. the "Cultural Experience Tour" with a "Bilibili"
ride (traditional raft), a guided snorkelling tour with tea and refreshments
while being serenaded by local musicians they also offer a "Backpackers Tour"
with a guided boat trip and guided snorkelling trips.
marine ecology consulting provides marine biological support for Waitabu MPA as part of its charitable community support.
GCRMN 2002 Report published
22nd March 2005
Report published and can be downloaded at GCRMN Website Publications page
http://www.gcrmn.org/status2002.aspx