WHY CHOOSE THIS TRIP?
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Quest Underseas provides locally relevant marine education and conservation projects, which directly involve and support local communities. Cooperating with local community members is frequently not part of management plans, tourism initiatives or government development strategies: something we aim to change.
Supporting local institutions and resource users is also a key component of our work, we can accomplish more, build capacity, share knowledge and expertise and provide educational and financial resources for future generations. Therefore we contribute funding and manpower towards what we see as the most pressing regional and local issues.
QUEST projects are based around the local needs of the community we work with. Funding the short, medium and long term goals guarantees that every team makes a lasting difference.
THE PROBLEM
The reefs of the Lomaiviti Group are some of the most biologically diverse in the world. There are important nesting sites for Green and Hawksbill turtles in the area, as well as local pods of spinner dolphins and pilot whales. The deeper waters of the Wakaya Passage provide the ideal environment for other large marine life, including humpback whales that are often seen during their winter migration. The island community, along with the Fijian Government Fisheries Department, are keen to explore the possibility of developing the island as a combined marine research / eco-tourism destination, without incurring the negative impacts that increased users can have on the marine environment.
Three quarters of the waters surrounding the island have been designated a Marine Protected Area, (MPA). However, pirate fishing in the MPA is threatening the livelihoods of the local people.
THE SOLUTION
Consequently, the aims of this Project are to promote community stewardship of the Reef by increasing understanding of coral reef ecosystems, thereby allowing local people to become more involved in the protection and sustainable use of their resources. We also hope to assist the Fisheries Department and local people in developing new management strategies for their MPA.
We will support local people with training and expertise in diving and monitoring techniques and conserving the local turtle population. Another key project goal is to use educational resources in the local school to help the children gain a better understanding of the threats posed to their marine environment and how they can contribute to its protection.
In addition, volunteers will carry out a socio-economic survey with the local people and look at the feasibility of establishing the island as an eco-tourism / dive destination. You will have the enviable opportunity to make a positive and long-term contribution to the conservation and sustainable development of this idyllic island.
PARTNER HISTORY
Quest Underseas were invited to work in Fiji in Summer 2007 by the local community and the Fisheries Department Research Division.
Current Participants:
Fijian Government Department of Fisheries
Local Fijian Community
Ovalau Watersports
Upon the success of this project, Quest hopes to establish links with the following:
Future Participants:
University of the South Pacific - The Faculty of Islands & Oceans is the first of its kind in the world and has a growing reputation in marine science and related fields and we hope to offer an accredited ‘Coral Reef Ecology' course to our volunteers through the University. We also wish to offer postgraduate students the opportunity to conduct research on the island. The Director of the Faculty, Ken MacKay is an authority on marine turtles and the issues affecting South Pacific populations.
Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area Network - FLMMA are working to re-invigorate traditional management practices, (demonstrated to be far more effective than Government led initiatives), to enable traditional land owning clans to regain ownership of their coastal marine resources.
Coral Watch - Coral Watch is an organisation built on a research project at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. They have developed a cheap, simple, non-invasive method for the monitoring of coral bleaching, and assessment of coral health
Local stakeholders - For the project to be successful there has to be full understanding and participation by local stakeholder groups including community leaders and local businesses. It is essential that the local people of Levuka and our island location see the direct benefit of the planned initiatives and so the proposed project will ensure that their needs are fully integrated.
Local Community Development - We fully realise the importance of involving and working alongside the local community. We will be run environmental education days as well as carrying out community infrastructure projects in the local school, to generate positive feelings and an understanding of what the volunteers are doing.
WHAT HELP IS REQUIRED?
We are very lucky as our Project has a wide range of possibilities for supporting research, education and skill development for both QUEST volunteers and local people. The marine conservation aspect will cover coral bleaching observation, development of hawksbill turtle monitoring & conservation, a giant clam reef re-seeding programme (supported with project funds and manpower), as well as funding of aquaculture through the Fisheries Department. A socio-economic pilot study will be run to determine the needs and aspirations of the local community regarding eco-tourism. The practical side of the project relating to responsible dive tourism will incorporate the mapping and marking of dive sites around the island.
You will come away from this project a well-trained and responsible diver, with new qualifications and life skills. You will make a measurable difference through your own personal contribution.
WHERE?
Fiji is located in the Southern Hemisphere and consists of over 300 South Pacific Islands. The Fijian people are some of the warmest, friendliest and most genuine in the world. Working on this Project alongside such lovely people is an incredible opportunity.