Helen Sykes & Stuart Gow Mail: PO Box 2558 Government Buildings SUVA, Fiji Islands Tel: (679) 336 3625 or 359 2136 Email: resortsupport@connect.com.fj Resort and Dive Operation Management, Marine Biology Support, Programmes and Training. Report on Reef Surveys carried out on the reef front of Lawaki Beach House, Beqa, by students from the Institute of Cultural Ecology, (I.C.E.) and Wildlands International 13 and 14 July 2004 Introduction: Helen R Sykes Resort Support Wildland International and I.C.E. are US based organizations that arrange educational programmes for students, largely from the U.S.A. The students on this course were from a variety of universities in the U.S., and were an average age of 20-23 years old. They were trained in survey techniques, and their surveys were supervised by Helen Sykes of Resort Support, a Fiji Reef Check National Coordinator. Survey team members Jennifer Anglin, Erin Evans, Justin Fry, Nichole Corbo, Nicole Johnson, Adam Mazzado, Blake Freeman, Lauren Grieg, William Larsen, Bjorn Lapakko, Adrienne Salanga, Miyako Kodama, Christopher Williams, Katarina Hardegan (group leader). Survey Team Leader: Helen Sykes (Resort Support) Lawaki Beach House is a small resort on the South Western coast of Beqa island. It has been operating since the start of 2003, and can accommodate 9 guests only. The owners are a Fijian/Swiss couple, Christine & Semisi ("Sam") Tawake-Bachofner. Stakeholders on Beqa island are interested in marine protection and conservation of the island s reefs, but there have yet been very few studies done to acquire data on the reef in the area. In November 2003, a group of 12 students from Wildlands / I.C.E. carried out the first Reef Check baseline survey of the reef area immediately in front of Lawaki Beach Resort. This group of 14 students in July 2004 used Reef Check survey techniques to make follow up surveys of the same area, and extend the study to new reef areas. It should be noted that although this was a very basic study, carried out by volunteer student surveyors, this is the only survey taking place in this region, and is showing a definite trend in improving reef health.
Map showing location of Lawaki Beach House on Beqa Island 2
Methods used: Reef Check surveys were carried out on the shallow reef top at high tide, and the deeper reef just off the reef edge, with the surveyors using snorkel gear only. Reef Checks were carried out on the shallow reef flat within view of the deeper edge in water about 1m deep, and just off the deeper reef edge in water approximately 3M deep. Three surveys were done: Two were in the same area surveyed in 2003, on the shallow reef top on either side of the creek mouth at the North edge of the property at GPS point 18 o 24.47'S 178 o 05.37'E. The third was just off the reef edge in deeper water. (see Sketch Map) Sketch Map showing areas of Reef Check Surveys: Corals on the Reef edge July 2004 3
Results: 1. Coral Cover: Reef Check Benthic Cover 2003 / 2004 C 2004 B 2004 B 2003 A 2004 A 2003 Hard Coral Soft Coral Dead Coral Algae Seaweed Sponge Rock Rubble Sand Silt Other 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Coral Cover has improved by around 10% on both sites A and B since 2003, and the reef top is showing a high level of new coral growth, especially Table and Finger forms of the Acropora Coral family. In particular the Reef Top at site B, opposite the Northern edge of the property, has a very high level of live new hard coral cover. In 2003 some coral was dead on the tips, probably due to exceptionally low tides just before the surveys. This was not seen in the 2004 surveys, so it is presumed that these corals recovered from that damage. The deeper reef edge (site C) was investigated for the first time, and shows a slightly lower level of coral, but different forms than the reef flat, being dominated more by larger boulder corals and areas of solid rock. Seaweed and algal cover was low in all areas, and the reef is in a clean and healthy condition. This is one of the best coral populations to be found on a reef top in the region, and indicates a good level of new growth. 4
2. Invertebrate Animals: Reef Check Invertebrates 2003 / 2004 C 2004 B 2004 B 2003 A 2004 A 2003 Banded coral shrimp Diadema urchin Pencil urchin Sea cucumber Crown of Thorns Giant clam Triton shell Tripneustes Cawaki urchin 0 2 4 6 8 10 Lobster Overall, more urchins, of various types (Diadema, Pencil and Tripnuestes), were seen in the 2004 surveys than had been counted during the 2003 surveys. This may be due to seasonal variation, as urchins are known to remain under rocks and corals, concealed from strong sunlight, during the warmer months. Otherwise, invertebrate numbers had not changed significantly on the shallow reef top Sites A & B, suggesting that fishing pressures have not changed. The survey done for the first time on the deeper reef (Site C), showed that the invertebrate populations on the deeper reef are very different from the shallow reef top, with the deeper reef having many more Diadama (black spiky) sea urchins and sea cucumbers than the reef top. This may be due to the relative ease of harvesting sea cucumbers etc on the shallower reef, or may be due to the different habitat type, as the deeper reef has more flat and rocky surfaces better suited to these organisms. A few crown of Thorns Sea Stars were found on all three sites in 2004, and other surveys showed that 5% of the corals on the reef top had COTS scars. The resort is continuing a removal programme that is felt is keeping the COTS down to a sustainable level. 5
3. Fish: Reef Check Fish 2003/ 2004 C 2004 B 2004 B 2003 A 2004 A 2003 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Butterfly fish Sweetlips Snapper Grouper Humphead wrasse Bumphead parrot Parrotfish Moray eel In 2003 it was noted that on the shallow reef top, butterflyfish were the most common fish, followed by parrotfish and a few small snappers. No grouper, sweetlips or larger food fish species were recorded. In 2004 similar levels of fish populations were seen, probably indicating no change in fishing pressures on the region. It should be noted that site B showed more butterflyfish than Site A in both years, and this links with the higher coral cover seen in this area, as most butterlyfish feed on and around hard corals. The new survey of the deeper reef (Site C) showed that the populations on the reef edge and deeper areas are very different from the shallow reef top. The shallow reef top is dominated by small fish, mostly butterflies, whereas the deeper areas are home to larger species such as snappers, groupers and parrotfish. This is probably due to the different habitat type, and also to the increased difficulty of fishing in deeper waters. Much of the subsistence fishing done in Fiji is done by walking on reef tops. NOTE: Groupers counted were all under 30cm, and are not included in the results reported to Reef Check. In Fiji these smaller grouper are a targeted food fish and so we record them as well as larger ones. 6
Discussion of factors affecting reef health : General: This shallow reef top was fished over a long period by village subsistence fishers. It is also rapidly recovering from a large coral bleaching event in the year 2000, due to extremely warm water conditions. There is now a lot of new coral growth on the reef top. Most of this is of the Acropora family, small table, finger and branching corals. These are probably new colonies that have grown since 2000. A few show signs of COTS feeding, but in general they are in very good health. Coral cover increased by 10% on the reef top between November 2003 and July 2004. Semisi Tawake has started a small clam farm, where he has placed about 30 Giant Clams (Vasua) which he gathered from other reef areas. These have been on the reef for the past 4 years and are now between 20 and 25 cm along their longest side. The clams grew about 3.5cm between November 2003 and July 2004, and in a year or so should reach mature breeding size. There are also several clams seen elsewhere on the reef, around the same size. Semisi has asked the villagers not use the traditional fishing method of fishing with the poison vine, Duva, which is suspected to have an adverse effect on coral growth, and this has been observed for two years or so at this point. This may also be playing a role in the growth seen of the reef top corals. Conclusions: This reef area is showing a rapidly increasing amount of healthy coral cover, and has a good population of invertebrates and corals. It is low in larger fish counts due to local subsistence fishing, but has plenty of small ornamental fish, and schools of mackerel and needle fish, especially early in the morning. The operation of the resort does not appears to be harming the reef at this time, and indeed is benefiting it by protecting the reef from poison fishing and Crown of Thorns incursions, and by providing breeding grounds for Giant Clams. This reef has a variety of habitats from reef top to deeper boulders and cuts, and with the baseline information now collected, would be a good location for a Marine Protected Area. This is the second study in the area, and regular such studies once a year are recommended to record any changes in health. 7
Photographs of the 2004 survey team: Entire team ready for Reef Check Survey: Standing L R Jenny, Adrienne, Erin, Adam, Justin, Bill, Bjorn, Nick, Miyako, Lauren, Chris Kneeling L R Nichole, Blake, Kat Making Reef Check equipment: Making survey lines Making record slates Practising Reef Check techniques: 8