Namena Projects
October 2009
A week-long workshop on community-based ecotourism business design gave Kubulau community members the skills they need to start and run tourism micro-enterprises. The workshop was conducted by the Universtiy of the South Pacific and was sponsored by the Coral Reef Alliance, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Fiji Ministry of Tourism. Three members of each of the ten villages received training, so each village now has a core team to promote and support the development of ecotourism businesses that can generate alternative income for the community.
Fall 2009
The installation of nine mooring buoys was completed at Namena Lagoon’s North & South Save-a-tack Passages and the Kubulau Lagoon. Moorings were installed at Save-a-tack Passages dive sites including: Kansas, North Save, near Chimneys (also useful for Blackforest and Neptunes), South Save, Keenans (useful for Robins Rainbow), and Fantasy. At the Kubulau Lagoon, moorings were installed at the Kiobo Village, Natokalau Village, and Navatu Bay.
April 2009
Eight Kubulau community members went to Namena’s sister site – Waitabu, in the Bouma district. Namale, Aggressor II, Korosun Dive, and L’Aventure Cousteau have deemed Kubulau the destination of choice due to their popular eco-tourism and village visits. There was a peer-to-peer exchange between the Kubulau and Waitabu to help both sites increase community-based tourism.
November 2008
Butterfly fish are bio-indicators of a coral reef’s health. Therefore, in honor of the Butterflyfish Count Slate International Year of the Reef 2008 (IYOR), the first Great Fiji Butterflyfish Count was held throughout Fiji. The count itself will take 30 minutes of a normal scuba dive, snorkel, or glass-bottom boat trip. During this time, counters will carry a Great Fiji Butterflyfish Count waterproof slate (shown at right) to help them identify the Butterflyfish they see. Scientists will carry out similar timed counts over measured areas and the results will be sent to Fiji Reef Check and Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network coordinators for analysis. Reports and a distribution map of Butterflyfish Abundance and Diversity will be posted on the Great Fiji Butterflyfish Count Web site.
The event received overwhelming support and participation from various resorts, dive operations, youth groups, village groups, Non Government Organizations, Institutions and individuals. 277 counts were recorded by over 200 people in 10 regional sites. Results from the event were sent in from Beqa, Coral Coast, Kadavu, Kubulau, Mamanuca Islands, Savusavu, Suva, Taveuni, Vatu-i-Ra and Yasawa Islands.
October 2007
This year the Kubulau district received a new weapon: the Kubulau Rugby Team. Armed with new jerseys, shorts, socks and equipment bags (provided by the Coral Reef Alliance, an international non-profit dedicated to coral reef conservation), these young Fijians have taken advantage of the opportunity to represent their community in a local tournament.
The Great Sea Reef tournament was created to raise funds for fishing wardens and equipment to address problems of illegal fishing in a neighboring community. The team was very successful in the tournament and essential in creating awareness around local conservation efforts.
March 2006
Four mooring buoys were installed at Namena’s dive sites – Grand Central Station, Chimneys, and SI by Kubulau District – Paulo Kolikata (Chairman of Marine Protected Area Management Committee), L’Aventure Dive Centre, Cousteau Resort, Moody’s Namale, Wildlife Conservation Society, Tui Tai, Nai’a, Koro Sun, Serenewai, FIMSA, and CORAL .