OceansWatch’s Magic Roundabout team has selected three possible Marine Protection Areas (MPA’s) around Karkar Island, Papua New Guinea, for consideration by the local communities.
The expedition, led by Chris Bone, saw the team surveying 7km of reef around the north-west of the island, a fishery that services an overall population of about 3,000.
The surrounding communities of Mater, Marangis, Keng and Mom have noticed a steady decline in the available catch from this fishery in the last thirty years. This is partly due to a population increase and partly due to new fishing methods, such as netting. A new tuna fishery on the mainland that now fishes in the area is also having a negative impact on local marine resources.
Each proposed MPA was refined after taking shallow and deep Reef Check surveys. The OW team worked with Karkar Island stakeholders for each MPA to draw up precise boundaries, taking into account the needs of the local people and beach areas in which turtles are nesting. A detailed report has been drawn up to lodge the MPA’s with the National Fisheries Authority.
Since OW’s last visit to Karkar Island in September 2008, a Fisheries Management Committee has been formed on the island. During this expedition OW was able to contribute to their first meeting. The committee agreed to raise awareness about marine conservation in the area. Through local campaigns they hope to educate people about such issues as the importance of releasing small fish from traps, reducing the loss of invertebrates, and not targeting small fish when spear fishing.
With an increase in fish numbers at these protected sites, it is hoped that Karkar Island will soon thrive as an ecotourism destination. This in turn will provide an alternative and sustainable livelihood for much of the population. OW is already working towards assisting those in the community that want to promote and develop ecotourism on the island.
During the committee’s first meeting, it was also decided that a larger umbrella organisation that could cover marine issues, ecotourism, land conservation and culture might be appropriate. A proposal was made to establish the Mamoke Conservation Committee. This body now needs to obtain legal status with the Papua New Guinea government.
OW Education and Humanitarian Projects Co-ordinator, Alison Schmidt, gave marine ecology talks at Mater Primary School on the island. As part of the OW Partnering Schools Project, fifty-one children whose families are unable to afford the Mater school fees are to receive scholarships thanks to funds raised by Kamo High School in Northland, New Zealand.
The Papua New Guinea government has agreed to pay for OW’s Karkar Water Project. The Magic Roundabout team took time on Karkar during this expedition to mark out a pipe route with Carey Senior, a consultant from Auckland.
One hundred reading glasses, donated by Chris Larn, were gratefully received at the Miak Health Centre. These glasses can now be distributed according to need in the local community.
Finally, the Magic Roundabout team noticed that the elders on Karkar Island, notably Teri and Wong, have started passing on their skills to the teenage boys there. A 10m sailing canoe is currently being built and children are being taught to play traditional songs using Kundu drums. A Culture House has also been erected to hold artefacts. This project seems to serve very well to give many of the teenage boys a sense of purpose and direction in life.
OW will return to Karkar Island periodically in the coming years to monitor its progress and provide additional support. In continuing to provide the local people with knowledge and guidance from experienced sailors, divers and scientists, Karkar Island can maintain healthy marine environments that will provide for future generations in a sustainable way.
OceansWatch PNG expedition updates are available on the Magic Roundabout sailblog http://www.sailblogs.com/member/oceanswatch/.
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