Fiji : 27 February - 05 March 2010

In late February and early March, Len McKenzie and Rudi Yoshida (Seagrass-Watch HQ) volunteered their time and resources to conduct a workshop, monitor sites on the islands of Viti Levu & Ovalau and catch up with local Seagrass-Watch teams in Fiji. The first sites to be monitored were sites on Ovalau Island, a 12 min flight from the mainland (Viti Levu). Cawaci sites have changed little since they were last monitored in June 2007. A record 13 whole seeds were also found at CW2, adjacent to the area where Public Works extraction activities occur.

	Cawaci, Ovalau CW1 & CW2 27 Feb 2010
	Suva workshop 01 - 02 March 2010

On Monday 1st, Seagrass-Watch HQ was back on the main island of Viti Levu, conducting, a Level 1 workshop at USP Marine Studies, Laucala campus.  The workshop was well attended by participants from a number of NGOs in Suva and Nadi.  The workshop included lessons on seagrass identification, background on seagrass ecology and importance, and how to monitor seagrasses using the Seagrass-Watch protocols. The workshop was also an opportunity for current “watchers” to see the trends in their data.  The following day, the field component of the workshop moved to Nasese, where participants monitored SV2.  Seagrass-Watch HQ would like to thank all those who attended the workshop, especially Posa Skelton for providing the venue, refreshments and local coordination.  To download Workshop feedback: Click Here  More images: Click Here.

	Tagaqe, Coral Coast TQ1 03 March 2010

On Wed 3rd, the monitoring moved to the Coral Coast. In the heart of the Coral Coast is Tagaqe village and the Rydges Hideaway Resort, who are working together to preserve the local coral reefs. Tagaqe village has designated part of the reef in front of Hideaway Resort as “tabu” protected. The Seagrass-Watch site is adjacent to the tabu area and although not been monitored since June 2007, appears to have changed little. The 1.6 hectare meadow is predominately Halodule pinifolia, with a mixture of Halodule uninervis, Syringodium isoetifolium and Halophila ovalis ssp. bullosa.

	Natadola ND1 04 March 2010

At the western end of the Coral Coast is Natadola. This bay contains one of the best beaches in Fiji and sheltered behind a small fringing reef within the bay is a seagrass meadow of predominately Halodule pinifolia. Isolated patches of Halodule uninervis and Halophila ovalis ssp. bullosa are also scattered over the fringing reef. Natadola has seen major coastal development over the last few years, including the construction of a number of international hotels. The Seagrass-Watch site is directly in front of the Intercontinental Resort, adjacent to the Water Activities bure. Seagrass appears to have expanded across the reef flat and although seagrass abundance appeared similar to June 2007, the abundance of epiphytic algae has increased.

	Denarau Island DN1 05 March 2010

The last port of call was Denarau: a reclaimed mangrove island connected to Viti Levu via a small causeway. Denarau is a few minutes from Nadi and the gateway to the Mamanuca Islands. The island contains a number of international resorts and residential estates. The seagrass monitoring site at Denarau (on the intertidal flats adjacent to the Hilton Resort) was established in 2007. Species composition is predominately Halodule pinifolia with Halophila ovalis and Syringodium isoetifolium.