Fijian Marine Protected Areas Go Digital

The Coral Reef Alliance has been working since 2003 in Fiji to strengthen marine protected areas that not only achieve reef management objectives but also help local Fijian communities receive tangible benefits from partnering in conservation. Some of these tangible benefits might include increased fish yield in non-protected areas by safeguarding no-take zones or spawning sites, or financial benefits derived from increased dive tourism to healthy reefs. An important step to achieving success is putting marine protected areas (MPAs) or managed marine areas (MMAs) on the map.

This week CORAL launched two new MPA websites that showcase our project sites in the Namena Marine Reserve and Waitabu Marine Reserve. Head over and check them out!

The websites provide visitors with some basic natural history, background on the local communities who manage the reefs, insight into Fijian culture, and efforts underway to protect the resources. There's also info on planning a trip to visit Fiji's MPAs.

When Eco Tours Go Bad

CORAL's Hawaii Field Manager Liz Foote sent me some disturbing images she captured during a recent snorkel trip to Molokini Shoal Marine Life Conservation District and other snorkel destinations off Maui earlier this week. She was in the water with a few different so-called "Eco Tour" operators. One company even sells it's tours by inviting guests to join "friendly experts on our unique Eco-Adventure cruises," and that they work "to protect whales, dolphins, all other marine life and their home – the oceans of the world."

Having looked-over all Liz' photos, my question is precisely which part of these Eco Tours is actually "eco," and demonstrating "protection of marine life and their home?"

Is it the floatation marker lines which companies use to create snorkel zones that also happen to abrade coral colonies?


Perhaps it's the float-line spools wedged between living coral colonies?

Or is it the show and tell with marine life out of the water while posing for the tour company videographer?


Is it the marine life carelessly "dropped" back onto the reef?

Is it the crowding and surrounding of an endangered species depriving it of an escape route?

Maybe it's the egregious examples of lack of supervision while guests kick, climb on, and scrape coral colonies with their fins?




Needless to say, when labels like "eco" are used for situations like this, it calls into question any serious commitment to environmental sustainability and suggests green washing. Which is why CORAL is facilitating a process on Maui and the Big Island to create a set of voluntary marine recreation standards (just like we created for the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef) for reef-safe diving, snorkeling, boat operation and other aquatic activities. The goal? Help the marine tourism industry formulate a set of best environmental practices and code of conduct that ensures their ecological footprint on their reef is minimal and Hawaii marine protected areas can better meet the States management objectives.

After all, a healthy reef means a healthy business.

Belize Deepens Commitment To Green Leadership

My queer sensibilities are screaming in pain at the above image of green paint under flourecent lighting. Ewww. What's important is that it's a picture of Coral Reef Alliance Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Program Manager Rich Wilson (left), Belize Minister of Tourism the Hon. Jose Manuel Heredia, Jr. (center), and San Pedro, Belize dive tourism operator Billy Leslie (right) following a meeting we set-up earlier this week in Belize City. The color of the walls at least underscores Belize' ongoing leadership in environmental sustainability for the Mesoamerican region.

Thanks to the vision of the government and leadership of marine tourism operators like Billy, we are inching closer to seeing our Voluntary Standards for Marine Recreation, a tool to measurably reduce recreational impacts to coral reefs, become ratified into Belizean law.

We've got a lot of work to do before we can put this one to bed. But great job moving the needle along, Rich! And kudos to Belize for leading by example.

CORAL Gets Its Media On

From the Caribbean to the Indo-Pacific, CORAL's in the news today. This time we get some coverage for our work supporting the Waitabu Marine Reserve in the tiny village of Waitabu (pronounced why-TAM-boo) on Fiji's third largest island of Taveuni. Waitabu just observed its 10th anniversary as a protected area and CORAL helped celebrate.

Heidi Williams, CORAL Fiji Field Representative (now there's a job I bet you want), was in attendance and presented two microgrants to the village of Waitabu in honor of the event. Through a generous grant from the Mar Viva Foundation, CORAL funded the replacement of all of Waitabu's snorkel equipment which is used to generate tourism revenue that offsets MPA management expenses. CORAL also found funds for a grass cutter for the village to help maintain campgrounds for tourists and aid in mosquito control by removing tall, wet grassy areas.

Congratulations, Waitabu, on 10 years of investing in the future. And thanks go to Bryan Dias, CORAL Indo-Pacific Program Manager, and Heidi for pulling off some quick magic on delivering on the microgrants.

Voluntary Standards To Support Kona MPAs

Go Kara and Liz! Fresh out of the gate, Kona Field Representative Kara Osada scores CORAL some front page press on our recently launched standards development project on the Big Island. Check out the latest news on this ambitious coral conservation project (a simple user account is required to read stories).

Liz Foote, CORAL Hawaii Field Manager, sums it all up perfectly, "This is an opportunity for people to define the future of their industry, as well as ensure the health and sustainability of our reefs."