© ReefBase
Gau Island, Fiji.
© WWFSPP / Monifa Fiu
Community surveying training on Gau island, Fiji.
Taking the first step: Baseline assessments
Marine biological baseline assessment of Gau's largest district Tikina Sawaieke's marine resources is the first attempt to map habitat health. It is an initial step towards providing information for the establishment and monitoring of protected or tabu areas.
WWF project sites in 2 villagesTikina Sawaieke makes up the largest district or tikina in Gau, an island with land area of approximately 190 square kilometers. 2 out of the 8 villages are WWF project sites in which communities are assisted in developing and implementing their locally managed marine protected areas (LMMAs).
Limited qoliqoli coverage warrants baseline assessment
Prior to any management, it is essential to have an understanding of how much resources and types of resources exist. Although 2 communities of the district are covered, the overall habitat health and diversity is not bound by qoliqoli (traditional fishing grounds) boundaries. Therefore, a baseline assessment provided a broader scale with enough precision on detailed surveys to define existing habitats.
Community survey training
Earlier in February 2005, a team of divers traveled to the island and conducted a week-long community survey training and its baseline biological assessment of Tikina Sawaieke's I qoliqoli. Since the initiation of the project, a project officer was based at the community site, Sawaieke.
The 4-member marine training team included :
- a Fisheries official
- a seagrass watch volunteer,
- a marine science technical person, and
- a dive master volunteer
