“Sacred Water”; 10 years of community managed marine protection supported by ecotourism-based income generation at Waitabu Marine Park, Fiji Helen Sykes and Chinnamma Reddy Marine Ecology Consulting, Fiji www.marineecologyfiji.com www.waitabu.org www.waitabu.org

1. Helen Sykes
www.marineecologyfiji.com www.waitabu.org
‘10 years of community managed marine protection
supported by ecotourism-based income generation,
at Waitabu Marine Park, Fiji Islands’

2. Waitabu village, Taveuni Island,
Republic of Fiji
Waitabu, a traditional Fijian village, is on Taveuni, the third largest island in
the Fijian Archipelago.

3. Waitabu village
Waitabu has 25 houses and 129 inhabitants, living in a
collectively owned traditional village unit.
They are financially dependant on farming cash crops
such as Dalo (Taro), and Yagona (Kava) roots crops, and
on subsistence fishing for the protein in their diet.

4. Socio-economics
2007: Fiji Locally Managed Marine Areas (FLMMA) network
socioeconomic survey:
Material wealth status of the community is average,
with an average income per household of FJ$ 150 / month
(highly variable as monthly income depends on sales of farm products)
Most people rely heavily on farming for subsistence and commercial livelihood.

5. 1989: Bouma Heritage Park
1989: Cash offered by logging company to cut hardwood in Bouma District
 Locals opted to preserve the forests rather than award a logging contract:
 New Zealand Overseas Development Agency (NZODA) (now NZAID)
assisted in developing the Bouma National Heritage Park
Objectives:
1. Protect the Vanua (the four communities) Bouma,
forest and ecosystems, including the marine areas of Bouma
2. To create sustainable livelihoods for the four villages
3. To preserve natural and cultural traditions where possible
4. To have projects managed by and for the local communities
Waitabu MPA started April 1998:
“Tabu” declared at village level
 recognition at “Tikina’ District level
 recognition at Provincial Council level
 Founder member of FLMMA 2001
(Fiji Locally Managed Marine Areas network)
“Fish Warden” training March 2009

6. Biological Monitoring
Annual surveys by a mixed team of scientists and community members,
with annual training and refreshers, and youths make their own presentations to
the community

7. Ecological Improvements
Results:
 Increased fish populations within the MPA after 3 years
 Increased invertebrate populations after 5 years
 Coral increasing and algae being removed by fish

8. Tourism started in 2001
 For the first 3 years the reef was left undisturbed to recover from many
years of subsistence fishing. In 2001, snorkelling tourism was started,
involving all clans within the community.
 Local youths receive annual training as snorkel guides and in First Aid, and
take part in annual biological monitoring
 Project is managed as a cooperative under a committee, with a Chairman,
Secretary, Treasurer and representatives from all 3 Matagalis.
 There is a paid Project Manager and Receptionist.

9. Tourism product
Half day trip including ride to MPA on traditional Fijian Bamboo “Bilibili”,
snorkelling in MPA, tea and entertainment in village F$50
Proceeds divided up immediately to:
Snorkel Guides, Tea ladies, Boat captain and fuel
Balance to project funds
Split into traditional community commitments and
fund for children’s school fees in 3 years’ time.

10. Interpretation
and explanation
Guides use posters and
maps to explain project
before snorkel trips start

12. Visitor numbers and earnings to date
The park hosts an average of 15 - 20 visitors per month
To date the Marine Park has received 2,832 visitors
and earned an estimated gross total of F$116,266, an average of FJ$745 per month
Earnings dropped in 2007 when
a reduced rate backpacker trip
was introduced.
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
18000
20000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Fiji$
Estimated annual gross income
(estimated total accumulated since start = FJ $116,266)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Totalvisitornumbers
Year
Annual Visitor Numbers
Visitor numbers were boosted in
2008/9 by a bi-annual visit of a small
nature-based cruise ship.

13. Good ideas that have not succeeded
Reduced rate trip for backpackers
Reduced income without raising visitor numbers
Camping
A campground has been added, so far only used by monitoring teams.
There are concerns about
cultural impacts
Website
2 websites have been created,
but without regular email and
phone contacts
are not useful to create bookings
www.waitabu.org

14. Ideas that have succeeded
Student groups, in homestays.
More profitable, more easily organised within the
village milieu, and also more culturally sensitive.
“Volun-tourism”
International Interns stay for months in homestays
while carrying out survey work in the marine park
Facebook
Accessible to community by smart phone.
Currently posting blogs and gaining followers

15. Future tourism avenues
Special interest nature-tourism groups to do all 4 of the
Bouma Heritage Park trips as a package.
These will take a great deal of training and discussion amongst the
community, but should be more profitable and sustainable.
In all enterprises it is necessary to concentrate on
mechanisms to ensure that all income generation
opportunities are fairly shared between families and clans

16. Community perceptions
of the importance of the MPA
Community dependence
Livelihood from harvested marine resources is minimal.
Villagers are more reliant on agriculture for cash income
The important benefits and services derived from the MPA
1. Food security
2. Monetary (Tourism)
3. Future reserve for natural resources (Fish for the Children’s Future)
Tourists / visitors to the MPA
Important as a source of supplemental income
Environmental attitudes
towards long-term commitment
and participation in the MPA
Positive in all community members
(FLMMA) network
socioeconomic survey 2007

17. Participation in biological monitoring
Raises awareness of the functions of the MPA
Establishes feelings of “ownership” of project
Reinforces commitment to the project
Long term project
MPA is now permanent in people’s minds.
Children have grown up with the concept
of marine protection for the past 11 years.
Some of them are now snorkel guides in the park.
Income generation through tourism
Supplementary cash income
reinforces ownership and
importance of protected area,
but it is important not to raise
unrealistic expectations and
to manage conflicts.
Reinforcement of conservation

18. Conclusions
Marine Conservation is very close to the hearts of Fijian people.
who often depend on subsistence fishing for protein, if not for cash income.
Involvement in MPA activities and work  stronger ownership and connectedness
to the project than may be achieved if work is entirely done by an outside agency.
Tourism activities in rural communities take a great deal of work and support,
and are unlikely to contribute a large amount of income generation in early years.
Tourism can be used
to supplement income,
raise awareness and education on
environmental issues,
and reinforce the value of an MPA.
The trick is not just how to start a project,
it is how to create long-term
sustainability.
Community involvement and income
generation can help to achieve this.

19. Please come and see us!
Support marine conservation by visiting
Waitabu Marine Park www.waitabu.org
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