Pacific projects for 2010
We will undertake two projects this year, one based in Vanuatu and another in the Sololmon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
Vanuatu with Magic Roundbout
This year our lead yacht Magic Roundabout will remain in Vanuatu for 6 months with its crew of scientists and divers, allowing for in depth involvement in existing and upcoming projects.
Working with the departments of Fisheries and Environment, the crew will be undertaking reef assessments, awareness and education campaigns, and assisting LMMA’s throughout Vanuatu.
Magic Roundabout will be leaving Whangarei, New Zealand, at the beginning of May to embark on the expedition. After arrival in Port Vila, Vanuatu, the team will be providing PADI Open Water training for local department officials, and undertaking Reef Check training to prepare themselves for the projects and their involvement with Reef Check Vanuatu.
Other yachts cruising in Vanuatu this season are welcome to join the team and assist in the reef monitoring, coral planting, and other ongoing projects. Contact claire@oceanwatch.org for more info.
The skipper for the first part of the project will be Guy Robinson and his son Jesse a divemaster, will be joining them for the first phase of monitoring.
The Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea with Moksha
After Reef Check training in Vanuatu, Moksha is headed for the Reef Islands in the Solomon Islands where we have had a request for help in managing their marine resources. They will then return to Rennell Island to check progress of the 20 hectare Marine Protected Area established last year.
At the end of June Moksha will sail to Papua New Guinea to carry on building relationships with the communities OceansWatch is working with. Marine management and community assistance projects will be directed by those communities and the coral reefs will be monitored again.
For a detailed itinerary see below
Moksha Itinerary 2010
16/04/10 Provisioning and preparation, Whangarei
28/04/10 Delivery to Vanuatu Allowing 4 days for weather window
10/05/10 Efate area. SCUBA and ReefCheck training Working with Reef Check, Environment ministry and Fisheries. Training OceansWatch crew and members in Reef Check. Look at the Vanuatu Fisheries small scale aquaculture projects
24/05/10
26/05/10 Sail to Solomon Islands
1/06/10 Work with Tou community, Reef Islands Marine conservation project according to community needs. Assess school and livelihood needs and opportunities
13/06/10 Sail to Rennell Island
16/06/10 Follow up visit Rennell Mark MPA, establish MPA catchment reserve, schlools support, yacht mooring, surveying & training.
26/06/10 Sail to Noro to clear Solomon Islands May try to vsist Gizo to check out WWF Giant Clam and Trochus projects
30/06/10 Sail to Rabaul Enter PNG
5/07/10 Sail to Kimbe
7/07/10 Kimbe. Work with Job on EBM Get up to speed on the Kimbe Environment Based Management training for Irene, scope out Karkar 2011 project.
14/07/10 Sail to Madang
17/07/10 Provisioning, fuel and govt/NGO visits Job (PNG environment ministry) joins us
22/07/10 Sail to Karkum
23/07/10 Scoping visit Karkum Look at ecotourism opportunities with community. Work with Job.
30/07/10 Sail to Karkar
31/07/10 Marangis Complete MPA signage, training, ecotourism, Mom land reserve, small business support. Possible EBM meetings with Ken Fairweather and Ward councillors to introduce EBM ideas.
10/08/10 Paulas community Initial work with Paulas.
22/08/10 Sail to Manus
24/08/10 Scoping visit Manus Visit contacts, awareness campaign, initial surveys
29/08/10 Sail to Moussau
31/08/10 MPA neteork South Moussau Continue work from 2009, establish MPA network using EBM
10/09/10 Sail to Kavieng
13/09/10 MPA work around Kavieng and New Honover Repeat 2008/9 surveys. Visit contacts New Hanover. Possible support for EU climate change team.
23/09/10 Sail to Garove
25/09/10 MPA and school work Garove Repeat survey and add others, schools work.
Head to Australia
