Islanders bask in coral farms
AMELIA VUNILEBA
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Epeli Vunisau shows a ‘farmed’ coral from Moturiki during Environment Week displays in Suva yesterday
THERE is another world that exists beyond the waters of the great oceans.
You just have to go for a snorkel or view pictures to know of the immense colour and life that exists beneath the waters.
As this is Environment Week, many initiatives taken in caring for the environment have come to the fore.
One of these is coral farming which was initiated by the Partners in Community Development of Fiji four years ago.
Three areas around the country began coral farming and this year, they are reaping the benefits, not just financially but environmentally as well.
In Lomaiviti province, Moturiki Island beside Ovalau is one of the three main areas that adopted the idea of coral farming four years ago.
Now the villagers are happy they are reaping colourful benefits from the project.
The first batch of farmed corals were harvested last month.
The products were launched by the Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations, Tourism and Environment Bernadette Rounds-Ganilau on Monday as part of Environment Week.
Epeli Vunisau is one of the coral farmers from the village of Niubasaga.
He was one of the participants at the first workshop conducted in his village in 2003 by PCDF a non-government organisation. He said the workshop taught the villagers, village headmen and interested people ways of planting coral. Farming under the sea?
It was a bit far-fetched for them to comprehend.
Coral was something they saw every day on the beach or in the lagoon but to actually plant them?
It was the first reaction but the idea is reaping lots of benefits for the villagers four years later.
For Epeli and his fellow villagers, the cultivation of coral was something new but was worth trying.
So they ventured underwater into the great blue and started planting coral.
Epeli said of the 10 villages on Moturiki, only three were involved in coral farming Daku, Niubasaga and Vulibau.
He said in the first batch of corals in 2003, there were 400 samples planted on a meshwire table on the sea bed.
Each coral planted had to be tied to a cement cookie which had two little holes bored through it so a string could be tied to it to hold it down to the table.
Epeli said villagers were excited about the project because it was not only easy money but helpful to the environment and one that would ensure the longevity of coral life.
We all know that people who live in villages rely heavily on farming of root crops and vegetables and fishing for subsistence and other financial livelihood.
Epeli said compared to planting dalo and yaqona and other rootcrops, coral farming was much easier and didn't really require that much work.
Of course, one of the main requirements for a good turnout of corals was that the water surrounding the farm needed to be clean and the outer islands easily boast a good harvest because of this.
The first batch of corals from Moturiki were on sale at a stall along the Suva seawall near the handicraft centre yesterday.
The corals on display were a myriad of colours and many happy tourist (and locals too, mind you) made a good buy.
Epeli said a small coral would fetch $20 while the biggest could sell for $150.
He said other villages on Moturiki had shown interested in coral farms after they saw how easy it was.
After the corals are harvested, they are washed with chemicals to take away the saltwater smell and then it is coloured.
The process takes about one month but after planting, harvesting, cleaning, colouring and selling, the villages do not regret starting coral farming.
Islands in Lomaiviti wanting to start coral farming should get in touch with the Fisheries department in Levuka or an official at PCDF.
AMELIA VUNILEBA
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Epeli Vunisau shows a ‘farmed’ coral from Moturiki during Environment Week displays in Suva yesterday
THERE is another world that exists beyond the waters of the great oceans.
You just have to go for a snorkel or view pictures to know of the immense colour and life that exists beneath the waters.
As this is Environment Week, many initiatives taken in caring for the environment have come to the fore.
One of these is coral farming which was initiated by the Partners in Community Development of Fiji four years ago.
Three areas around the country began coral farming and this year, they are reaping the benefits, not just financially but environmentally as well.
In Lomaiviti province, Moturiki Island beside Ovalau is one of the three main areas that adopted the idea of coral farming four years ago.
Now the villagers are happy they are reaping colourful benefits from the project.
The first batch of farmed corals were harvested last month.
The products were launched by the Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations, Tourism and Environment Bernadette Rounds-Ganilau on Monday as part of Environment Week.
Epeli Vunisau is one of the coral farmers from the village of Niubasaga.
He was one of the participants at the first workshop conducted in his village in 2003 by PCDF a non-government organisation. He said the workshop taught the villagers, village headmen and interested people ways of planting coral. Farming under the sea?
It was a bit far-fetched for them to comprehend.
Coral was something they saw every day on the beach or in the lagoon but to actually plant them?
It was the first reaction but the idea is reaping lots of benefits for the villagers four years later.
For Epeli and his fellow villagers, the cultivation of coral was something new but was worth trying.
So they ventured underwater into the great blue and started planting coral.
Epeli said of the 10 villages on Moturiki, only three were involved in coral farming Daku, Niubasaga and Vulibau.
He said in the first batch of corals in 2003, there were 400 samples planted on a meshwire table on the sea bed.
Each coral planted had to be tied to a cement cookie which had two little holes bored through it so a string could be tied to it to hold it down to the table.
Epeli said villagers were excited about the project because it was not only easy money but helpful to the environment and one that would ensure the longevity of coral life.
We all know that people who live in villages rely heavily on farming of root crops and vegetables and fishing for subsistence and other financial livelihood.
Epeli said compared to planting dalo and yaqona and other rootcrops, coral farming was much easier and didn't really require that much work.
Of course, one of the main requirements for a good turnout of corals was that the water surrounding the farm needed to be clean and the outer islands easily boast a good harvest because of this.
The first batch of corals from Moturiki were on sale at a stall along the Suva seawall near the handicraft centre yesterday.
The corals on display were a myriad of colours and many happy tourist (and locals too, mind you) made a good buy.
Epeli said a small coral would fetch $20 while the biggest could sell for $150.
He said other villages on Moturiki had shown interested in coral farms after they saw how easy it was.
After the corals are harvested, they are washed with chemicals to take away the saltwater smell and then it is coloured.
The process takes about one month but after planting, harvesting, cleaning, colouring and selling, the villages do not regret starting coral farming.
Islands in Lomaiviti wanting to start coral farming should get in touch with the Fisheries department in Levuka or an official at PCDF.
