World Oceans Day - 8th June

With healthy oceans comes a healthy planet, so today is a day to take action and learn how to conserve, preserve and protect our oceans.

Oceans account for about 71% of the Earth’s surface, and approximately 97% of Earth’s surface water. Aside from simply taking up the majority of the Earth’s surface, the oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, Antarctic, Arctic, and Indian) have massive impacts on everything that occurs on the planet, from influencing climate, holding a large share of the planets biodiversity – with over 230,000 known species residing in it -- and providing humans with an abundance of resources necessary for life, from energy, to food, to transportation.

Here in Vava'u, one of the most important ecosystems we are striving to protect is the coral reefs. Coral reefs are masses of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) composed of skeletons of tiny, colonial marine organisms. They form in tropical and subtropical areas of the world and act as a means of helping to stop shoreline erosion through absorbing wave energy. Their rigid, complex framework, on which a variety of creatures and structures thrive (such as anemones, sponges, hydroids, and other sessile invertebrates) are regions of high primary productivity, making them excellent hosts of biodiversity, habitat availability, and food sources.

Mangrove forests are another ecosystem that are abundant in Vava'u. They are series of trees along muddy shorelines with root systems that curve upwards to obtain oxygen and nutrients that are lacking in the mud of which they grow. Their root systems and foliage provide habitats for a variety of coastal creatures; as well, their strong root system stabilizes shorelines against storm surges and oceanic changes, filters pollutants, and slows surface runoff.

Biodiversity loss is a major issue that our coastal and marine ecosystems are facing today. This loss is attributed to climate change and sea temperature rise, rubbish impacting species food systems, as well as things such as overfishing and over harvesting. With this loss of biodiversity, ecosystems are less able to produce and maintain primary and secondary production, which effects all levels of the food chain. Additionally, ecosystems are less able to adequately withstand natural occurring disturbances, since they are left smaller and more vulnerable. Decreasing biodiversity affects all stages of an organism’s lifecycle, as it reduces habitats used for nurseries and limits potential habitats for species when they become fully grown. Biodiversity helps to filter and detoxify marine and coastal ecosystems, without which can lead to algae blooms and dead zones, making life for other organisms almost impossible. In Vava'u biodiversity is essential for both fishing and tourism, as local people rely on oceans and its products to stimulate the communities and the local economy. You can help to maintain the biodiversity of our oceans by making sure rubbish ends up in bins, using cloth bags instead of plastic bags, keeping fishing and gleaning practices within sustainable levels (not overfishing), removing old fishing lines or aquaculture structures, and walking or biking instead of driving to reduce emissions which contribute to sea temperature increase.

One of Vava'u's treasures is its humpback whale migration season from mid-July to October. Because of this, it is vital that we work to keep our oceans clean and healthy, so that these creatures have a home to give birth and feed before heading back to the Antarctic for the summer. Whales exist as a keystone species in marine ecosystems, therefore threats to their populations effect other populations, as everything in an ecosystem is connected via the food web and carbon cycle. Whales enhance ecosystems through a top-down trophic cascade. The iron and other nutrients they defecate stimulates primary productivity, thereby enhancing krill and other fish productivity. Whales keep our fish populations thriving, so we need to help them by providing a healthy home for them and their young. 

One of the easiest ways to help the oceans is to challenge yourself to go plastic free! It is estimated that 90% of the rubbish in the ocean (specifically in the infamous "garbage patches" floating in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans) is plastic that cannot degrade, and therefore either accumulates or is ingested by marine organisms. Going plastic free as often as possible can help to reduce the impact that it has on ecosystems and their inhabitants!

HUMPBACK HIGHLIGHTS (Protect our Pacific Whales)

• Megaptera novaeangliae
• The South Pacific (Oceania) population remains on the IUCN Red List for endangered species
• Humpback whales live an average of 50 years
• They can grow up to 18 m long, with females being typically larger than males 
• Newborns are on average 4.5 m long
• Species of baleen whale 
• Distinct attributes of these whales are their breaching and slapping of the water

Join in on programs in your area to support the health and biodiversity of your ocean! Our activities take place this upcoming Saturday 11th June, when we will engage youth members in their coral reefs. Our event is sponsored by the Waitt Foundation with the use of the vessel WhaleSong from Jones Business Services

Meet our new volunteer

Malo e lelei! 

I'm VEPA's new volunteer from Canada. I am studying for a Bachelor of Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Leadership at Renaissance College, a part of the University of New Brunswick. A truly wonderful and unique program that has helped me to be able to volunteer here in Vava'u. Aside from this, I am studying environmental science and plan on focusing my future studies on marine conservation, so I am extremely excited to have this opportunity to volunteer with VEPA and their amazing island preservation initiatives!

Growing up, I have always been involved with environmental programs in my community and school. The summer prior to this I had the opportunity to intern with the Nature Trust of New Brunswick, a non-profit land trust organization that focuses on education, stewardship, and conservation of significant land in New Brunswick. A truly amazing organization that inspired me to focus my studies on conservation, specifically marine conservation from working on the coastal preserves, which fit perfectly with the work that VEPA is currently undertaking. 

Left to right: Lisa, Meredith, Courtney and Seini

So far, my time in Tonga has brought me nothing but pleasure. I've experienced a feast, church, VEPA events, and have met so many incredible people. The kindness and hospitality that has been shown towards me so far has Tonga living up to its reputation of being the "Friendly Islands"! I'm looking forward to getting to know more about Tonga's people, culture, and ways of life in the next 11 weeks that I have with VEPA. 

Malo,

Courtney

Blog 2: Marine Habitats

Part of our community awareness program for the “Our Ocean” project, funded by the Waitt Foundation, is to further the information to communities on the different marine habitats that are located in Vava’u. This awareness need was also highlighted for critical importance through the "Rapid Assessment of Biodiversity of the Vava'u Archipelago" (SPREP, 2014)

The following is an overview of each habitat, our next blog post will cover the importance of “ecosystem connectivity” and why we have to think big when looking at marine resource management and protected areas!

Mangroves are shrubs or small trees that grow on mudflat areas close to the shore. Mangrove shrubs are a salt tolerant that are able to live in harsh coastal conditions.

Mangroves habitats provide shelter for juvenile marine species to be safe from large predators through using it’s aerial root system and provide suitable habitat for oysters and other mollusks.

Mangrove areas also help reduce land based pollutants from entering the coastal waters by absorbing quantities of nitrates and phosphates through their roots as well as absorbing trace metals into the sediments.

They are also important for coastal communities as they protect our shores from large storms and waves by reducing their potential energy.  

Seagrass are a type of plant that have roots below the sandy bottom, they are commonly found in shallow, clear coastal waters. Seagrass provide shelter for a wide variety of marine species within the ocean and are a favoured food by Green sea turtles. It also helps protect and stabilise the ocean floor sediments from being eroded by wave actions and is a large carbon storage area.  

Intertidal zones, are mudflat areas exposed at low tide, this is  where communities usually do their gleaning activities for invertebrates such as the sea cucumbers, clams and other species. Clams and other seashell organisms help the ocean by cleaning the water through filter feeding.

Coral reefs are formed by tiny sea creatures named polyps that are identical to the families of jellyfish. Polyps release calcium carbonate to it’s base that form up layer by layer for so many years before it creates the hard coral reef system. 

Coral reefs are very significant as they provide shelter and food for various marine organisms and are home to some of the greatest biodiversity in the planet. 

They also safeguard our shores from large wave actions and storm. Coral reefs attract tourists from around the world and are also a very important habitat contributing to beach formation. 

Pelagic seas, are found off the coral reefs and coastal areas where waters may reach thousand of meters in depth. The pelagic seas are home to a multitude of species at varying stages in the lifecycle, as well as being critical for migratory species such as marine mammals, predatory species such as tunas and sharks.

All marine habitats are of great importance to ecological, social and economic benefits, they suffer grave threats from habitat destruction, over fishing and harvesting,  as well as land based activities such as the use of fertilisers and climate change impacts.

Protect Pacific Whales..

A very exciting time for our beloved whales as the focus for 2016 and 2017 SPREP programme, more information on the websites below:

The Pacific Island region is home to over half the world's species of cetaceans, whales and dolphins, including some of the least known, and as such members of the Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Programme (SPREP) agreed to focus their activities in 2016 and 2017 on a targeted regional campaign on whales. 

The ‘Protect Pacific Whales – Ocean Voyagers’ Campaign provides an opportunity for SPREP and all its Members and partners to celebrate these magnificent creatures, raise awareness on whales and their conservation, but also on ocean conservation. What happens in the ocean will inevitably impact whales.  The campaign will also address the problems facing them as ocean-dwellers that will surely ultimately impact us all.

The programme of work that is envisaged for the Protect Pacific Whales Campaign is an ambitious mixture of scientific research, training and capacity-building, exchange of information, and cultural and artistic celebration.

Join us to celebrate  whales and their place in Pacific cultures, promote their protection in the face of emerging threats, support measures to enhance their conservation, and to maximise the economic return available to Pacific island communities from the development and application of best-practice guidelines for whale-watching.  

For more information, visit our website (English and French versions available) https://www.sprep.org/yearofthewhale  and contact us at pacificwhales@sprep.org.

Blog 1: Our Ocean's 2016

Through a grant provided by the Waitt Foundation of California, the OUR OCEAN 2016 project  will aim to increase community capacity and understanding  of marine ecosystems and the benefits of  marine protected and community managed areas for marine ecosystems

During our 12 month project, we will launch an island-wide Community Awareness Program. This program will provide education and about coral reef ecosystems, including ecosystems functions, threats faced and how they impact livelihoods and socio economic development, and marine management techniques such as community managed areas, marine protected areas and aquaculture programs that strengthen alternative income generation schemes.

Our community awareness team will also continue their program in 12 schools, 6 Government Primary Schools and 6 Secondary Schools, on the topics of  “Mangroves and Shoreline” and “Oceans and Reefs”.

We will also highlight successful community management programs such as the Fisheries Special Management Areas (SMAs).  Ovaka was the first SMA established in Vava’u and derives its success from the strength of the community committee that manages the coastal waters surrounding Ovaka. We will use this case study will be used to highlight the progress of the SMA and the commitments made by both Fisheries and communities. We hope this case study will assist other communities in their SMA process.

Other activities under the program include ocean themed events, habitat mapping and design of resource materials such as posters that will assist people and highlight the information gathered from this project. 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for regular updates.