Long live the shark 

by Samuela Loanakadavu

Sunday, July 18, 2010

FIJI'S Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) is close to 1.3 million square kilometres compared to the land area of about 18,300 square kilometres.

With a population of about 850,000, more than half of our people live in rural areas - depending on land and sea for their survival.

Like most of the other parts of the Pacific, the most challenging food security towards the next 20 to 40 years is to sustain food production levels in line with food demand. In Fiji, marine lives are predominant given that we have more sea space than land. But too little has been done to protect it. EEZs are vast and the region is rich in coral reefs and marine life.

It also has unique biodiversity values.

Mangroves and coral reefs provide fish and shellfish for subsistence and commercial sale. Offshore waters provide fish for exports while coral islands and reefs support growing tourism industries.

In fact, our marine environment is under pressure from growing human populations and development.

Mismanagement of ocean resources is rife and new approaches are needed to assist communities, the private sector and national governments in sustainable development of marine resources.

Unfortunately, very few are taking their time to look into the very nature of our existence taking into account the livelihood of our children in the future.

While they enjoy their fish in meals, most are not aware of what is really happening to their food security.

The writing was on the wall in Galoa Island when I caught up with a group of man who had slaughtered 11 different sizes of two species of sharks.

I was stunned because I had never seen a large number of sharks caught in a single fishing trip in recent years.

It was also a shame to see the lack of awareness on what they were doing as their commercial need overgrew their care for the environment.

I discovered the problem was rooted in the lack of knowledge and mere ignorance.

It's a failure because there doesn't seem to be any laws against shark finning in Fiji and we probably have not considered the long term implications of the extinction of sharks.

Last year, Mike Neumann the owner of the Beqa Adventure Divers came to the fore advocating a ban on the shark fin trade. Mr Neumann believes sharks play a very important role in the survival of coral reefs which are home to other marine species.

"Sharks are keystone species, meaning they have a disproportionate effect on their environment relative to their biomass," he said.

"Such species affect many other organisms in an ecosystem and help to determine the types and numbers of various other species in a community."

More here on Fiji Times

More here on Beqa Adventure Divers blog

Fiji Surfing Decree Becomes Law

FIJI SURFING DECREE BECOMES LAW - Surfline.com

Island Surf Spots -- including those on Tavarua and Namotu -- now opened to all

By: Paul Holmes

  

There was no evidence of foot dragging in Fiji this week as the government moved swiftly to sign into law its Surfing Decree, making it effective July 9, 2010. Now anyone with a surfboard and a boat can access Cloudbreak and Restaurants on Tavarua, or Swimming Pools on nearby Namotu -- and any other surf spot that previously may have been restricted -- no fees, no fuss, no argument.

"Police ready to enforce Surfing Decree," headlined a story on FijiLive.com, with Richard Naidu reporting: "Fiji's police force says it is ready to enforce the provisions of a decree that provides unrestricted access to surfing and marine sports areas to tourists and locals alike. Police spokeswoman Ema Mua said the force will have to quickly understand the decree and provide enforcement."   

Indeed, those trying to shoo encroachers off their would-be exclusive surf spots face harsh penalties: a fine of $10,000 for a company or $1,000 for an individual, plus a possible two years in jail. If anyone is concerned that a world-class break like Cloudbreak will soon see the same kind of rough justice that constitutes crowd control at Pipeline, hold your judgment. A close reading of the Decree reveals that acts of localism will be subject to the same penalties.

But the Fiji Surfing Association's John Philp believes that it will never have come to any of that. Reached by phone today he said of the Decree: "We are very happy about it. It's in many ways a civil rights thing--you feel you're living here in your own country and yet you can't surf certain places. So local people are ecstatic about the new law." And, he hastens to emphasize, "We want to make this a win-win for everyone, including the surf resorts at Tavarua and Namotu. We are asking everyone to be cool. In this transition people need to behave responsibly and safely, so that everyone can enjoy the great waves."

More here

Fiji expected to experience a partial solar eclipse

Fiji expected to experience partial solar eclipse Publish date/time: 11/07/2010 [13:04] 

Fiji is expected to experience a partial solar eclipse starting from around 5:15 this afternoon.

The NASA Website confirmed that there will be a total solar eclipse in the South Pacific region with French Polynesia falling directly in the path of the total eclipse.

It said that on Sunday, July 11th, the new Moon will pass directly in front of the sun, producing a total eclipse over the South Pacific and the path of totality stretches across more than a thousand miles of ocean, making landfall in the Cook Islands, Easter Island, a number of French Polynesian atolls, and the southern tip of South America.

Hundreds of Scientists and photographers from around the world have flocked in numbers to the Cook Islands to experience this phenomenon.

Weather permitting the partial eclipse will be visible in Fiji starting at around 5:15pm and finishes at around 5:45pm.

Story by: Roneel Lal - Fijiillage.com

Surfers can access any area without paying - FijiTimes.com

Surfers can access any area without paying 

Timoci Vula - Fiji Times

Thursday, July 08, 2010

TOURIST and local surfers can, from Friday July 9 this year, access and use any surfing area in Fiji without having to pay or obtain permit or approval from any person.

The decree aims to encourage and promote Fiji as a premier surfing destination, promote surfing as a sport, maximise development and training of local talented surfers, and also for locals to engage more profitably in the surfing industry.

Head of the tourism ministry Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the decree had been gazetted following Cabinet's approval on June 30, and it prohibited any exclusive use of any surfing area by any person.

"Any person who obstructs or prevents any person from accessing or using any surfing area for surfing or for any water sport, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine and or imprisonment," Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said

He said previously, a number of surfing areas in Fiji were exclusively licensed to a couple of hotel operators, which deprived other tourists and Fijians access and use of these surfing areas.

He said numerous reports had been received of tourists and Fijian surfers being physically and violently harassed and assaulted for surfing at these exclusive surfing areas.

Responding to claims of a campaign by licence holders of current exclusive surf spots, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the free access and use of all surfing areas in Fiji to all tourists and Fijians provided an opportunity for all Fijians, including itaukei landowners in the proximity of these surfing areas, to profit directly and indirectly by way of engaging in businesses themselves.

"The surfing industry is a global USD$10 billion dollar business and Fiji is home to some world class breaks known throughout the surfing world. There is enormous worldwide interest in surfing in Fiji given the quality and range of surf breaks in Fiji," he said. "The Decree paves the way forward for all Fijians to now engage more profitably in the surfing industry as surf-tour operators, life savers, surfing-specialised hotels, backpacker resorts, and home stays."

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said with the opening up of surfing in Fiji, there could be an additional 20,000 surfing tourists visiting Fiji each year, given the present 10 million plus surfers worldwide.

Meanwhile, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said any people who use any surfing area in Fiji for surfing or any water sport was required to ensure all surfing areas were utilised in a sustainable and environment-friendly manner, and that no other activity including fishing would be allowed in those areas.

Youths Take to the Waters

Youths take to the waters

Josefa Makaba
Thursday, July 08, 2010

Fiji will be represented by five local teams in the South Pacific Youth Hobie Challenge

THE Fiji Hobie Class Racing Association will use this month's South Pacific Youth Hobie Challenge as part of its development program for local sailors to represent Fiji to future regional and international competitions.

The build-up starts with the inaugural South Pacific Hobie Youth Challenge in Suva on July 24-25.

Five local youth teams are currently being trained to represent the country in this competition.

The teams consist of youths from settlements in Jittu Estate in Raiwaqa and Kalekana in Lami.

The association says the teams are being groomed for top level competition and the 2011 Pacific Games.

The teams will compete against other Pacific island countries.

The Fiji Sailing Association intends to make the youth challenge an annual event and to be attended by most South Pacific countries.

Following the youth challenge will be the Air Pacific South Pacific Championships.

A training program will also be organised during the youth challenge whereby experienced sailors like Graham Southwick will share their knowledge of the sport.

South Pacific Championships and Suzuki Fiji Hobie Challenge

eSouth Pacific Championships and Suzuki Fiji Hobie Challenge - www.sail-world.com

Hobie Fleet 252, Fiji has now extended their South Pacific Championships and Suzuki Fiji Hobie Challenge to now include South Pacific Hobie Youth Challenge and 2010 Worlds Training. New for 2010 is an inaugural annual Youth Team Challenge in Fiji on July 24 and 25, upon request by some South Pacific countries.

The event will be preceded and followed by three days of afternoon training sessions with some pretty impressive sailors, Grahame Southwick and Aaron Worrall amongst others, who will be here for Worlds training immediately prior to our events (mornings are reserved for school work) - how lucky are these kids!

Hobie Fleet 252 is planning to make this an annual event that coincides with Australasian school holidays going forward so we look forward to welcoming some Australian youth teams here in the very near future.

Event website click here
International Hobie Class Association website http://www.hobieclass.com/

BY Hobie