Fiji

Yasawa Hub Achievement Report Project Milestone February 2013

GVI Joins Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area Network (FLMMA) Executive Committee

In December 2012, GVI attended the FLMMA Province and Annual General Meeting in Navakaka village, Cakaudrove Province, Vanua Levu. GVI provided funding for the Assistant Coordinator Tito Elo of the recently formed Nacula Tikina (District) Yabula (environment) Management Support Team to attend along with Taione Delai, GVIs Marine Science Coordinator. On the first day of the Province Meeting there was a review of the Best Practices for Community Resource Management Outcomes of FLMMA covering the following topics: Herbivore species and Harvest area Marine Protected Area Management Yabula Management Support Teams Site Audits Land Use Management Reef Enrichment Initiatives Tai gave a lessons learned presentation on the importance of educating communities on the need to manage areas that are open to fishing and how there can be positive outcomes for these open areas. Tai proposed that awareness should be raised within communities to manage their fishing practices in unprotected areas using non-destructive fishing techniques and have gear restrictions set in place so that less damage is caused to coral reefs, their inhabitants and surrounding ecosystems. On the second day of the Province Meeting the FLMMA AGM was held, Global Vision International Fiji was nominated to join the executive committee of the FLMMA Network. The GVI Yasawa Marine Conservation Program is now officially registered to represent and carry out FLMMA objectives in The Nacula Tikina. FLMMA: Who We Are (excerpt from FLMMA website (www. lmmanetwork.org/whoweare)
The Locally-Managed Marine Area Network is a group of practitioners involved in various community-based marine conservation projects around the globe, primarily in the IndoPacific, who have joined together to learn how to improve our management efforts. We are interested in learning under what conditions using an LMMA strategy works, doesnt work, and why. The Network's membership consists largely of conservation and resource management projects that are using (or planning on using) an LMMA approach, and includes: Community members Land-owning groups Traditional leaders


Elected decision-makers Conservation staff University scientists and researchers Donors

The Network spans the people and cultures of Southeast Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia and the Americas. Some nations have their own countrywide network, which operate autonomously, but within the framework of the overall Network. Independently and together, we work toward our five objectives: 1. Learn about the LMMA approach (through systematic and question-driven monitoring and/or other assessment approaches). 2. Protect biodiversity at specific sites. 3. Promote the LMMA approach (and lessons from using it) in the Indo-Pacific and globally. 4. Build capacity for learning and implementation of Community-Based Adaptive Management (CBAM). 5. Develop the policy environment at local, regional, country and international levels to support widespread adoption of LMMAs.