10-16 JULY 2025: SUVA, FIJI
Seagrass-Watch will conduct a five-day training workshop focused on the monitoring and mapping of seagrass resources. This event is scheduled to take place in Suva, Fiji, from July 10 to July 16, 2025.
SPREP and the MACBLUE Project cordially invite you to participate in a 5-day training workshop focused on monitoring and mapping intertidal seagrass resources, scheduled to take place in Suva from March 13 to March 19, 2025.
This Training event is organised by SPREP, with funding provided by the MACBLUE Project, and is supported by Seagrass-Watch: Global Seagrass Observing Network.
The MACBLUE (Management of Blue Carbon Ecosystems in Pacific Island Countries) project, which is being implemented in Fiji, Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, has five key overall outputs as follows:
- National mapping of mangroves and seagrass ecosystems
- Ecosystem valuation with emphasis on carbon stock, emission factors and anthropogenic threats
- Blue carbon policy and institutional strengthening
- Implementation of local management approaches
- Communication of proven concepts, project results and best practices
The Seagrass-Watch monitoring and mapping training aims to equip government partners with essential skills and knowledge, enhancing their technical capabilities. This training will:
- enhance participants’ skills in collecting data and information critical for the management and conservation of seagrass habitat.
- inform the policy and management measures for seagrass habitats.
The training contributes directly to Outputs 1, 2 and 4 of the overall MACBLUE project.
Participants will:
- Study seagrass biology
- learn seagrass taxonomy
- discuss seagrass ecology
- gain knowledge of monitoring and mapping
- learn Seagrass-Watch protocols
- learn Seagrass-Watch mapping
- become skilled at conducting a field monitoring event
More information: Click Here
Interested in attending?
To register your interest and for further information please contact:
Turang Teuea
Project Coordinator, MACBLUE Project
SPREP
Apia, Samoa
Email: turangt@sprep.org
(Registration closes: 5pm FJT, 26 June 2025. Register Now!)
Places are limited!
Become part of the Global Seagrass Observing Network,
so our marine life and oceans
can have a future.
Thank you
Seagrass-Watch HQ was in Hervey Bay 11-13 March 2024 through the support of Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation to conduct Level 1 training for their rangers.
This was the first training event in Hervey Bay since 2015 and it was really great to catch up with the participants.
The Rangers gained thorough background knowledge about their local seagrasses, how they can monitor them and how their sea country compares globally.
Participants were keen and asked lots of questions – ensuring they understood the protocols and the background knowledge required.
The classroom and laboratory sessions were conducted at Training facilities in Urangan while the field session was at held at Burrum Heads.
The dominant seagrass species at Burrum Heads include the opportunistic and colonising species Halodule uninervis (narrow leaf morphology) and Halophila ovalis, respectively. The dominance of these species indicates regular disturbance across most of the intertidal banks. The persistent species Nanozostera muelleri is more common at BH2 For site information: click Here
Seagrass-Watch HQ would like to thank all participants who attended. It was great to meet you all again and really fantastic to catch up with everyone. We hope you all found the training informative and enjoyable.
We would like to thank Chantel Van Wamelen and Tahlia Burns (Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation) for making this training event possible.
This training event was facilitated by Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation and supported by Seagrass-Watch Ltd
Apart from learning how to monitor and identify the seagrass species in their region, participants also identified what they saw as the top 5 reasons why seagrass are important and the top 5 threats to seagrass in their sea country.
| IMPORTANCE OF SEAGRASS: | THREATS TO SEAGRASS: |
|---|---|
|
1. sediment stabilisation |
1. agricultural runoff (incl. pine plantations) |
|
2. habitat/nursery |
2. commercial fishing (physical damage nets & pots) |
|
3. food for dugong & turtle |
3. coastal development |
|
4. healthy ecosystem |
4. climate change (extreme weather, elevated temp) |
|
5. ecosystem productivity |
5. urban/industrial runoff (pollution) |
TRAINING GALLERY
Participant feedback
Below is a compilation of Participant feedback
Participant's impressions of the Level 1 Training:
Participant's ratings of the Level 1 training:
What aspects of the training could be improved?
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What I enjoyed most about the training was:
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Thinking about what you have learnt over the last few days, can you please tell us, what's the best thing (attribute) about seagrass meadows?
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How does this training help you (what does it provide)?
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Why is this important to you?
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Other comments
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Download
Seagrass-Watch: Proceedings of a workshop for monitoring seagrass in Butchulla Sea Country, The Tree House – Urangan Community Wellness Centre, Hervey Bay, Queensland, 11-13 March 2024 (Seagrass-Watch HQ, Clifton Beach). 58pp. [5.9Mb]
Seagrasses of Butchulla sea country. 2024
