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

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.

World Ocean's Day 9th June 2014

Yesterday here in Vava'u we celebrated World Ocean's Day. The event was co-ordinated by VEPA  and Endangered Encounters and sponsored by many of the local businesses in town as well as a large number of volunteers collecting rubbish underwater and along the shoreline.

Marine pollution and marine debris are 2 of the many  issues that are oceans are facing, rubbish thrown both directly into the water as well as rubbish blowing in from the shoreline here our creating issues to our marine environment.

Our poster was made by kids at the Vava'u Public Library Fun Day.

Volunteer diver bringing up tyres.

Hanite working hard.

Lisa and Kat sorting rubbish.

ANZ Bank volunteers.

No clean up should be carried out without a specialist BBQ chef.

Rubbish placed in trees is removed by Brian and Tracy

 We would like to thank all of the volunteers that gave their time to help with the event, both in cleaning up and also making it fun.

Sponsors of the event provided sausages, gloves, rubbish bags, water, tents and all the essentials to make these event successful. Below is a list of sponsors:

Endangered Encounters, Riki Tiki Tours, VEPA, Beluga Diving, ANZ Bank, Seventh Heaven, Pafilio Tangitau Store, Mounu Island Resort, Teisa and Kalolo, Coconut Car Rentals, Trouble in Paradies, Vava'u Shipwrights, Seahorse Power, GIO Recycling, WestPac Bank.

BIORAP Survey of the Vava'u archipelago

This is a vital and important survey initiated by Ministry of Lands, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, SPREP, Waitt Foundation and VEPA, to explore the habitats of both land and sea for species diversity, species habitat and to collaborate resources for the improved ecosystem health of coral reefs, sea birds, reptiles, marine mammals and not forgetting plants.

As part of the marine team, we have 10 researchers involved in identifying, counting and monitoring the health of one of the most important ecosystems for Pacific Island nations, coral reefs. Coral reefs provide valuable protection and ecosystem services to both cultural and commercial avenues in Tonga.

Our studies include
Coral Taxonomy - species identification
Coral Health monitoring - percentage of coral cover, disease and invasive species impacts.
Reef Fish Biodiversity - species list and abundance.
Commercial Fish - fish used both culturally and commercially and there abundance for sustainability.
Invertebrates -  crustaceans, molluscs, nudibranch and other small yet vitally important organisms that clean, provide nutrients and food to other marine life.

Our team consists of 4 Tongan partners, 2 from Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forests and Foods and 2 from Ministry of Lands, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, as well as overseas scientists residing in American Samoa, Hawaii, Singapore, Australia and oh little ole me!

So what does BIORAP mean - its a rapid assessment of the biodiversity of the islands and marine life in Vava'u. There are many areas that have data deficient statistics and though this survey is short, so much valuable data will be collected and passed on to the government and communities to fill gaps and to exchange with local knowledge on the status of the ecosystems.

None of this would of happened without a lot of input from varying parties striving towards the same goal, to improve and protect the ecosystem health and species habitat of Vava'u for a sustainable future.

For the marine team, we are currently based on the Waitt Institute Scientific Research Platform, with a crew working above and beyond to enable us to carry out and conduct these surveys of the outer coral reefs. We have spanned far and wide including Fonualei, Toku, Maninita and many other far reaching islands.

Lutjanus kasmira - Blue lined snapper.

Acropora sp. - healthy coral.

Monitoring of introduced species Trochus niloticus.

We have 7 more days to go as I write this, at present we have conducted over 30 hours of studying the reefs and their dynamics underwater and other hours are left to compile the data we collect as we blow bubbles.

This is a fantastic project, one VEPA holds very dear to its heart, but without all the hard work from all the partners, scientists and funders, this would not be happening. We have a long road ahead and a lot more data to collect in the next week, but we will keep you updated as we can.

Malo
Karen

Coral Reef Survey and Outreach Program with Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation

VEPA was kindly asked to participate in the outreach program of the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation during their stay in Tonga. The vessel, M/Y Golden Shadow, is a large research vessel belonging to HRH Khaled bin Sultan of Saudi Arabia who has dedicated this vessel to monitoring and protecting the world’s coral reefs.

After their time in Fiji, the vessel arrived in Tonga where it was joined by 24 scientists and local partners including representatives from Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Fisheries and Ministry of Lands, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources.

Karen Stone, who joined the vessel for VEPA, is also able to help out on some of the dives by collecting data on sea cucumbers, giant clams, and crown-of-thorns and Trochus snails.

This data is important for Tonga to help assess the current status of commercial fisheries including sea cucumber harvesting and status of Giant Clams. Crown-of-thorns are damaging to the reef as they feed on the corals; their natural predator the Triton Trumpet Shell is a much sought after species for souvenirs.  Crown-of-thorns species is also an indicator of run off, pollution and agricultural practices.

The first stop for the vessel was Ha’apai, the outreach team led by Amy Heemsoth, Director of Education for the Living Oceans Foundation, delivered awareness to over 500 school children and 35 teachers in one day. The slideshow focused on the objectives of the projects, coral ecology and the threats they face worldwide.

Ha’apai is extremely reliable on their coral reefs not only for a sustainable food source but also as a barrier between the ocean and the land protecting the coastlines from storm damage and as an indicator for climate change.

The awareness program was well received and some great comments from teachers and staff members showed a desire to learn more and to help enable the future of their coral reefs.

There is more outreach to come in the following week until we head to Vava’u, currently we are at Haafeva, which is a Fisheries Special Managed Area and tomorrow (Monday) we will head to shore to attend the Primary School followed by a community meeting in the evening.

This is a wonderful dedicated program that serves not only to provide scientific research but also to work alongside the communities to which coral reefs are so vital. It is an honour for us to be a part of such a program and we look forward to being able to continue the outreach and collaboration once the vessel has left our shores.

Vava'u Coral Reefs

Coral is an important piece of the environment that we need to protect.  I come from Australia and people have told me about the swimming in the Great Barrier Reef.  The majority of these people say it is not as good as it has been in the past.  This is because of humans as we use boats that anchor on the reef and also rubbish that gets blown into the ocean.  Coral grows very slowly and we have come along and bit by bit destroyed coral that is thousands of years old.  We are only starting to protect the Great Barrier Reef now.

Just some of the colourful marine life in Vava'u

Vava’u has hope as there is beautiful coral around in Vava’u and we need to protect that by being careful where we anchor yachts, ships fishing boats etc.  We also need to clean up the rubbish that’s on the road and put it in the bin, otherwise people are going to be called lazy and then I vote to change earths name to ‘The Laziest Planet in the Solar System’.

Coral bleaching on a reef in Vava'u

I learnt another thing while snorkelling with a VEPA volunteer in the Neiafu bay outside my place.  This is a bad process called erosion, where silt or mud is washed into the ocean when it rains and covers the coral.  Living in the coral is a little plant called Zooxanthellae, which helps keep the coral alive.  The coral provides a protective home for the plant and the zooxanthellae provides food for the coral through the process of photosynthesis (breathing in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen).  It’s just like trees only the fish use the oxygen instead of land animals.  The silt covers the coral so the Zooxanthellae can’t breath and die and then the coral dies.  When coral is dead it looses all it’s colour and turns white.

Vava'u's clear waters are fantastic for divers visibility. 

So please get off the couch and help VEPA and other organisations with our environment.  Not just coral but tree’s, animals (reptiles, fish, whales, land animals etc).  So please help any environmental organisation you can so we don’t have to change earths name to ‘The Laziest Planet in the Solar System’.  

By Ashlee Jones (student at Saineha High School)

Nesting Colonies of Vava'u's Outer Islands

posted by Kate Walker

Otu Motu Lalo outlined in red

In the early 1990s the three islands of Maninita, Taula and Lualoli (collectively known as Otu Motu Lalo) were proposed as a protected area by the Tongan government due to their importance as sea bird breeding colonies. Lack of resources and shifting priorities meant that this proposal was never taken any further. In the following years, Vava’u’s emerging eco-tourism market led to these islands being identified as potential tourist attractions and their importance was recognised by the New Zealand Overseas Development Administration funded Tongan Nature Tourism Program in 2002. As part of this program, a baseline survey of Maninita and Taula was commissioned and a rat eradication program was also carried out on both islands.

The baseline surveys, as reported by Dr D Watling from Environmental Consultants Fiji, list the species of flora and fauna that can be found on both islands and maps the ranges of vegetation habitat type. The dominant species of plant found on both islands is the tree locally known as Puko (Pisonia grandis), however their woodland type varies between islands. Maninita enjoys a high Puko tree forest with a solid unbroken canopy suggesting mature woodlands. Taula, on the other hand, is also mostly covered by Puko trees but the woodland is made up of shorter trees with a highly broken canopy. This difference is explained by the human use of Taula, where harvesting of seabird chicks is a known annual occurrence. There are plenty of signs of cut Puko trees which Watling accredits almost certainly to felling of trees to harvest the birds.

Typical coastal vegetation on Taula

The birds that were observed on Otu Motu Lalo are a combination of migrating species from the north and resident species of Tonga year round. During the two baseline studies, 21 species of birds were identified between the two islands. Of these species, three are resident breeding land birds (Wattled Honeyeater (Foulehaio carunculata; Fuleheu), the Banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis; Veka) and the Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris; Sikota)), the rest are seabirds. Of the 21 species identified, five of them nest in these identified islands. The greatest abundance of nesting birds are the Black Noddy (Anous minutes; Ngongo)with an estimated 13,000 breeding pairs, next most abundant are the Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus; Ngongo) with an estimated 1500 nests across both islands and then the White Tern (Gygis alba; Tala) with an estimated 1,000 breeding pairs. 

Black Noddy (photo: 10000birds.com)

Brown Noddy (photo: 10000birds.com)

White Tern (photo: Dave Wiley)

 Red-footed Boobys (Sula sula; Ngutulei) also nest on both Maninita and Taula, but are found in higher numbers on Taula. It is thought that, unlike the noddys and terns, the boobys nest all year round and therefore the number of nests (approximately 50) found during the baseline surveys were not representative of the population size. This was further supported by the large number (compared to number of recorded nests) of Red-footed Boobys coming to roost, rather than nest, on both islands each evening or in high winds.

Red-footed Booby & Frigate Bird, Taula

 

Red-footed Booby over Taula

In addition to this, Taula hosts a breeding colony of Black Winged Petrel (Pterodroma nigripennis; Lafu). These birds nest in burrows up to one meter deep that they dig in sandy soil, visiting them late in the evening and at night. While Dr Watlings’ baseline survey was a comprehensive study of all flora and fauna species of the islands, he was unable to quantify the occupancy of the petrel nesting burrows. This is owing to a local village party that had visited the island a week before the survey and ‘devastated the colony’ through harvesting. It was felt by the survey team that additional disturbance of the nests would be detrimental to the health of any surviving birds. Therefore burrow numbers were used as an estimate of colony size and a figure of 200 petrels was derived.

Black Winged Petrel (photo: Nvoaden)

Petrel burrow on Taula (photo: D Watling)

  

The studies conducted by Dr Watling and his team show Maninita and Taula to be very important seabird nesting colonies with intact native flora. BirdLife International’s Important Bird Area proposal document states that these islands are some of the best remaining examples of Tonga’s small island ecosystems. However, the attributes that make them such important ecosystems are under threat from continued human exploitation and the lack of any management framework. 

Remains of a booby at a camp site on Taula

As well as being important nesting islands, the Otu Motu Lalo islands are also important nesting grounds for Vava’u’s marine turtle species and as such will be visited by the Vava’u Turtle Monitoring Program on an annual basis. We will be able to use this time to also monitor the seabird nesting population and human activity on these islands and look for any worrying trends that may emerge. 

 

Busy birds and stormy skies - large flocks of seabirds over the outer islands of Vava'u

 The first turtle surveys were completed during January 2013 and many eggs and chicks were observed on Taula with large flocks of seabirds being visible at all times. Seabird nesting was found on most of the outer islands visits, but without doubt, Maninita and Taula were the busiest. We have since made contact with Dr Watling and will be able to use his baseline data to compare any additional bird data that we collect.

Noddy egg in a nest on Taula

Very young noddy chick on Taula

Black Noddy chick getting close to fledgling on Taula

If you would like to find out more please contact us at info@vavauenvironment.org

Malo, Kate