Conservation and Research Projects

Working With South Pacific Projects

In 2011 WDCS began working closely with South Pacific Projects,  a UK based non-profit marine conservation organisation committed to preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable development in local communities.
The main goal of South Pacific Projects marine conservation expeditions is to assist Fijian island communities to conserve and manage their traditional fishing grounds.  Each coastal village in Fiji has a traditional fishing area, normally adjacent to the village, called a Qoliqoli (pronounced n-golly-golly). These marine areas, which can be mangrove forest, coral reef, river estuary or a combination of these different ecosystems, provide food, income and building materials for the community. South Pacific Projects works with the Department of Fisheries, the University of the South Pacific, the Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area Network and WDCS in Fiji to help establish community managed marine protected areas within these Qoliqolis.
 
Our staff team, assisted by international conservation volunteers, records specific data on targeted marine species like important food fish and marine invertebrates. This information is very useful in assisting local communities in deciding the placement of new marine protected areas. As part of our commitment to capacity building, we employ members of the local community as part of our project team. We pay above average salaries to our local staff and offer free training in SCUBA diving and marine ecology in order that they may grow with our organsiation. Another part of our commitment to capacity building is to offer Marine Science Scholarships to students from the University of the South Pacific.

South Pacific Projects is therefore delighted to be supporting WDCS in the Pacific with the establishment of a new Spinner dolphin research and conservation project. Volunteers are now able to experience a unique new form of eco-tourism in Fiji. Under the supervision of Dr. Cara Miller of WDCS, this project allows volunteers to make a direct contribution to cetacean conservation and raise awareness about these beautiful animals in the communities surrounding Moon Reef in the district of Dawasamu.

For more details on this opportunity, please visit the South Pacific Projects website

Find out more about WDCSs work in Fiji.