Santa Came Early for VEPA this year

It’s been awhile since I’ve written a blog for VEPA.  We have been so active over the last couple of months with the lovely international volunteer Vicky managing the coral reef nursery out at Matamaka (sad to see her go), the Nature Explorers Club, Karen and Kate rescuing turtles and running workshops for the board.  

The new year will be a busy time for VEPA as in the last month we have successfully been awarded not one but TWO grant applications, and an unofficial acceptance on another.  In addition to this The Vava’u Turtle Monitoring Program has been awarded the Prince Bernhard Nature Fund, which will supply funding to purchase a vehicle, rent for an office space and office equipment. 

The excitement started when we found out VEPA was successful in getting funding for a joint composing project with the Women’s Division in the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries Forestry and Farming (MAFF).  The New Zealand High Commission has kindly funded this project and we will start building the compost at the MAFFF farm in January 2013.   Following the construction of the compost a series of composting workshops will be held for the women’s groups of Vava’u.  We will show them a variety of easy low cost compost types, which will not only improve soil quality but also reduce the amount of green waste being burnt. 

In the village of Toula the Australian High Commission will be funding a waste management and recycling project.  Two recycling stations will be set up where residents can separate their plastic, aluminium cans, steel cans and glass.  These cages will be collected once they are full and taken to GIO Recycling.  VEPA will be assisting Toula to plan, implement and monitor the project.

Lastly, but arguably the most exciting, it looks like VEPA will get funding to employ a part time project manager and run a year long project on sustainable mangrove management.   We will keep you updated when the official agreement has been signed.  

The new year will also bring a new office space.  We are currently looking at a cosy little space, ideally located in the centre of town with a ‘terrible’ view of the beautiful Neiafu Harbour.   This space will be shared with Kate, who manages the Vava’u Turtle Monitoring Program.

I hope all the VEPA followers have a wonderful Christmas and I look forward to updating you on VEPA’s activities in 2013.

Ofa atu

Elana

Turtle Release 26th October

Upon arriving at work this morning we were alerted to a turtle that was on a local fishing boat, the fishermen allowed us to purchase the turtle for TOP30. Though we do not like paying for turtles as a means to preserve them unfortunately this is often the only way we can secure a release.

Kate Walker with the Turtle 

Monitoring Project

The small green turtle was in a very healthy condition luckily and only had 3 minimal scratches possibly from being in the boat. We brought it back down to the waterfront and Kate came over to take measurements and to tag the turtle with flipper tags.

 47.5 cm in length of the carapace

The green measured 47.5cm in length of the carapace or shell and although the minimum catch size is 45 cm we are currently in the closed season for hunting. The Vava’u Turtle Monitoring Project aims to reduce the illegal catches of turtles such as this one through community assistance and education. This program is running alongside of VEPA and VEPA will continue its work to raise awareness and rescue turtles as we can.

Once the turtle had received its 2 flipper tags, it was whisked off back to the ocean and released near some sea grass beds, which is the main food source for green turtles.

Tagging the turtle's flipper

At 47.5cm this turtle is not yet sexually mature and sexual identification is hard to determine, turtles will disappear from the nest to the open ocean and float around until they come back to shore at approx. 20cm (dinner plate size though I hate using that term as a marker!). The estimates of sexual maturity range between 20-30 years old and this turtle had quite a way to go before reaching that stage.

The tagging of this turtle enables us to monitor if it is caught or seen again, and the information is passed along to the pacific database.

Karen Stone and Langi at Dive Vava'u

The turtles are about to begin their nesting season here and between the VTMP and VEPA we hope to successfully engage communities to recording and establishing data with us. This will work towards the goal of reducing catches and egg taking and turning towards turtles as an income source for communities through eco-tourism.

VEPA would like to thank all those involved in the successful rescue this morning, we are hoping for more successes as the Turtle project comes into full work soon.

For more information on VEPA and the turtle project please contact us by email on info@vavauenvironment.org or turtles@vavauenvironment.org.

Facebook us on: VEPA http://facebook.com/vavauenviro or http://facebook.com/vavauturtle

Blog post by Karen Stone (VEPA Project Coordinator)