Caqalai Hub Achievement Report March, 2017

Environmental Engagement for Sustainably Developing Communities

Target objective: Environmental Engagement and Education

Provide the communities of Caqalai and Moturiki with information on their
natural resources, including the threats and means of protection, to
empower them to better manage their marine resources

Socio-economic surveys aid in determining current practices around and income from the coral
reefs surrounding each village of Moturiki. Our objective for Quarter 1 was to complete socio-
economic surveys for all households in the village of Daku.
In order for GVI Caqalais long-term monitoring surveys to have an impact we
need to communicate what we learn from them to the communities. A crucial
first step in this process is to listen and understand what the communities
themselves can tell us about their reefs. To do this, we turned to our partner
organisation FLMMA, the Fijian Locally Managed Marine Area network, to help
conduct socioeconomic survey so we could better understand the nature of
fishing practices in Moturikis villages.

The Caqalai Marine team conducting environmental outreach

GVIs Caqalai Marine program hosts Environmental Education classes every week
in the two schools on Moturiki, as well as teachers workshops on Caqalai.
Through this we strive to communicate the importance of marine conservation.
Before we begin suggesting the best methods for reef preservation, we needed
to assess how the villages use the reefs. To make a lasting impact, we need to
understand and be aware of the perspectives of the community members. This is
where socioeconomic surveys are valuable as a means to learn about the social,
cultural, political and economic conditions of the fishing practices in the Moturiki
villages. By using FLMMAs standardised socio-economic survey, not only can we
use the data for our own project development, but we can also report back to
FLMMA.

This year, we aim to complete socioeconomic surveys in at least five of the ten
Moturiki villages as part of achieving the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goal 14 of conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and
marine resources. We know first-hand that the villages rely on the reef for
income and food, but to what extent? What species do they predominantly fish?
What are the local rules surrounding fishing practices? Are there ever
disagreements about how to manage the resources? The surveys help provide
answers to all these important questions which will ultimately guide and
influence any management decisions in the future.

In March, we finished surveying all of the twenty-two households in the village of

Daku. Surveys were conducted by the volunteers with help from Fijian-speaking
staff members, in case translation was required. Volunteers first received a
presentation on how to conduct socioeconomic surveysincluding a workshop
on how to not to ask leading questions and ensure that the data received is as
accurate as possible. Surveys were conducted almost every week and, as
volunteers gained confidence and comfort, more surveys were completed per
visit.

Among the people we spoke to were the church minister, a woman who tie-dyes,
farmers and fisherman; some people had lived in Daku for their entire lives and
others had moved to the village later. We learned that people catch fish, hunt
crabs, collect shells and coconuts and grow the root vegetable cassava and
culturally important kava. Most said they ate fish or seafood - canned or fresh -
every day or every three days. Many felt like their opinions were heard in village
meetings and agreed with the current resource governance methods. Many also
spoke of poaching by fishers in the surrounding villages, suggesting that most
fishing conflict came from inter-village as opposed to intra-village. There were
conflicting opinions about tabu areas - no-take zones designated by the
traditional hierarchy. Some did not remember the last tabu area in Daku; one
man equated a tabu to murdering a fisherman. However, others remembered the
times where they could fish close to shore, times where the fish and sea
cucumbers were plentiful, whereas now they have to fish in deeper water in
order to find the sustenance they need.
Engaging in conversations improves our relationship with the villages. We do not
assume to know what they need and want; the only way to understand their
needs is to talk to them. From our conversations so far, we have been able to
hear first-hand how they use the reef and what their concerns are. It is our hope
that communities will feel listened to and that we can do a better job of
responding to their needs.