Whale-watching has recently developed into an important industry within the South Pacific islands region (Economists @ Large & Associates. 2008a). In particular, the presence of humpback whales at high latitudes during the winter months has become of great interest over the last 10 years (Schaffar and Garrigue. 2007). In the Kingdom of Tonga, whale-watching activities began in 1994 and focus on a small population of humpback whales utilising the waters around Vava'u as their
The plastic demijohn
Origin: streets, streams, beaches and boats.
Behaviour: can cause serious, even fatal intestinal
blockages in marine animals if swallowed.
Average lifespan: 400 to 600 years.
The present document reviews the population status, fishery and trade of sea cucumbers worldwide through the collation and analysis of the available information from five regions, covering known sea cucumber fishing grounds: temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere; Latin America and the Caribbean; Africa and Indian Ocean; Asia; and Western Central Pacific. In each region a case study of a "hotspot" country or fishery was conducted to highlight critical problems and opportunities for the sustainable management of sea cucumber fisheries.
STRATEGIC CONSERVATION PRIORITIES IN MICRONESIA: Identify the top strategic conservation priorities in Micronesia through locally appropriate and participatory in-country and regional assessments of biodiversity, threats, opportunities and local and regional capacity. Monitor and regularly update these assessments to enable us to adapt our implementation strategies.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: ?
The development of a National Energy Policy Framework for Vanuatu is of high priority. Given the high dependence of Vanuatu on imported petroleum fuels and their associated escalating prices, it is imperative for the Government to put in place a national energy policy framework that not only address the adverse impacts of such high prices on the economy and the people but also provides a long term development plan for the energy sector. The ultimate goal is the provision of reliable
and affordable energy services to all people in Vanuatu.
Available online
Eighteen Species of beche-de-mer were recored in a survey of eef flats and seagrass areas in Vanuatu.Composition and diversity was variable in different habitats, and denstities were genereally low.It is unlikely that present stocks could support recommended harvesting quotas.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
Physical Description: 7 Pages
This report presents the result of the marine stock assessment survey conducted in Vanuatu from the period between 1998- 2000 on the status, abundance, distribution and diversity of beche-de-mer, giant clam, rock lobster and Coconut crab (Birgus latro) resources in the Vanuatu archipelago.
In common with other Pacific Island countries, the Government of Vanuatu has pursued a policy of developing small scale artisanal fisheries to improve the supply of fresh fish and to provide
Coral reef is a rich but fragile ecosystem. It is very important to the marine biodiversity as well as to the global economy. Coral reefs rival that of the great communities such as the tropical rain forest in terms of richness, beauty, complexity and diversity. It provides habitats, feeding and breeding grounds of many marine lives including some important commercial species. Coral reefs contribute to the rural and national economy, nutrition, shoreline protection and more importantly the self- reliance of the people, particularly the coastal communities.
Community fisheries management (CFM) has been introduced in fisheries management in Vanuatu almost over a decade ago. Today, most of Vanuatu's coastal zone fisheries are managed under CFM system. However, it appears that the current CFM is inefficient, weak and unsustainable. In this study, the actual form of CFM in Vanuatu is described and compared to the Amason design principles for an efficient CFM. According to Arnason approach, CFM is a form of property rights regime. It was found that Arnason design principles existed to some certain degree in CFM in Vanuatu.
Vanuatu's involvement in trochus research commenced in the early 1990s and its in involvement in the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) trochus funded project spanned over 10 years. This encompassed 3 phases of the
ACIAR trochus funded research project, with phase 1 of the project involving nutritional aspect of trochus, phase 2 concentrated on hatchery seed production and reef reseeding and the final phase concentrated on broodstock enhancement using a
community-based management approach.
Available online|Including Bislama Version)
The Vanuatu Environment Unit is undertaking a capacity building add-on to the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Planning Project. One priority within this work has been to assess capacity to conduct research, assessment and monitoring of biological resources and their ecosystems to which they are part of. An inventory of recent and current research, assessment and monitoring programmes have just recently been done by the project. A report is currently in preparation following this stock take.
Available online
Call Number: [EL]
The Vanuatu Coral Reef Monitoring Network Project (VCRMN) is a regional network funded under the Canada South Pacific Ocean Development (CSPOD) programme coordinated by the University
of the South Pacific's Institute of Marine Studies at the School of Marine studies Programme (MSP) in Suva Fiji. Under the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, the Pacific Node is divided into
Vanuatu is an archipelago of 80 volcanic islands in the Western Pacific ocean with a population of 192,000, the majority of which are Melanesian. Approximately 79% of the population live in the rural areas, and depending on subsistence lifestyle of gardening, fishing and animal keeping. The islands are geologically young with narrow fringing reefs that support a limited marine and fisheries resources. These marine resources are important source of protein and a source of income from local sale of products such as fish, crabs, shellfish and lobsters. Trochus shell (T.
The Republic of Vanuatu is an archipelago of some 83 islands in the southwest Pacific with a population of 221,000 predominantly Melanesian people with over 110 different cultural-linguistic groups. It remains a UN LDC with a per-capita GDP of US $1500 that lias been increasing 5-7% per annum over the last 3
Much of the marine related traditional knowledge held by fishers in Vanuatu relates to increasing catches while managing resources of cultural, social and subsistence value. Traditional beliefs and practices associated with fisheries and their management follow natural cycles of resource abundance, accessibility, and respect for customary rules enshrined in oral traditions. Many management related rules that control fishers' behaviours are associated with the fabrication and deployment of traditional fishing gear.
In 1993 a study of coastal villages in Vanuatu revealed that within the previous three years there had been a rapid increase in marine resource management (MRM) activities. The initial impetus for these events was the Vanuatu Fisheries Department's promotion of a voluntary, village-based trochus management programme. Initially the programme involved only a few fishing villages out of a total of several hundred.
The Vanuatu Government, through the Vanuatu Environment Unit in collaboration with relevant departments, has implemented this UNEP/GEF funded project on National Capacity Self Assessment (NCSA) Project, which started in Vanuatu in December 2004. The main objective of the NCSA project is to enhance the capacity of Vanuatu in addressing global environment management issues, particular in the thematic areas of Biodiversity, Climate Change and Land Degradation, each being addressed within its respective international convention.
Available online
This report provides an overview of priority environmental concerns (PEC) in the 3 IWP focal areas of sustainable coastal fisheries and marine protected areas, protection of freshwater resources and community based waste reduction.
Mangroves are trees that live halfway between land and sea. This is what makes them special; as for most plants salt water is deadly. Mangroves are among the few trees that can grow in seawater and in places where the seawater mixes with the fresh water from the land.
In Samoa, most of the mangroves grow in areas protected by coral reefs. They are found in coastal areas, especially in river estuaries - the wide lower part of a river's lower end
where it meets the sea.
Available online
Call Number: 375.00830095 FAA [EL]