Welcoming new team for Vava’u Ocean Initiative

Greetings and Malo e lelei everyone. My name is Heilala Fu’itahi Lavemaau and I am 20 years old. I grew up in the village of Tefisi residents at Makave, Niponi Vava’u. I started working at VEPA as an Officer for the project of Vava’u Ocean Initiative on the 5^th of February 2024. I am honored and grateful for the opportunity given by the director Karen to be part of the VEPA team. I am currently a student at the University of the South Pacific doing my degree majoring in Marine Science. VEPA has given me the best interest which boosts up my level of understanding based on my study which regarding our environment and ocean.

I consider this experience will help me become a more ethical leader and help me incorporate sustainable practices into the lifestyle back home to help conserve our environment for the better and healthy. The chance to apply my skills to a new field of work and learn about the community and environment excites me much. First, we went with some of the VEPA team to Mount. Talau to carry out the project of Invasive Species. We went and monitored baits and snap to see if there was rat. Rats are invasives species which feed on the egg of the Tongan Whistler bird which is endemic species that are only found at Mount. Talau here in Vava’u.

Second, we went on the school program awareness to Mailefihi College based on the topic “Climate Change.” There was a presentation with pictures for the students to see and learnt from the impacts of Climate Change to our environment and for us all which inspire all students to start a change for a healthy environment and reduce human activities that causes Climate Change. Not only that, Government Middle School of Liviela welcomed us for another presentation based on the topic “Ocean”. I would like class 5,6 to see the pictures of threats to our Ocean and make a change in taking our Ocean into a healthy ecosystem with its marine life.

All these activities make me feel motivated and happy as this awareness and projects really have benefits on our environment and oceans and I am looking forward for more good work at VEPA. However, take care of the earth as well as our environment and it will take care of you.

One response to “Welcoming new team for Vava’u Ocean Initiative”

Raymond Milo Buckley

February 27, 2024 at 7:34 pm

Congratulations Heilala Fu’itahi Lavemaau on joining the VEPA Team and bringing your skills and interests to the Vava’u Ocean Initiative project. This is one of the most successful efforts that VEPA, under Director Karen Stone, has started in Vava’u to bring awareness to the constant need to be vigilant about the condition of the marine ecosystem in the archipelago. I am sure that you will enhance the success of this project. Your being aware of the stresses “we” continually impose on the marine environment through “our” actions and inactions, and the impacts of these stresses, is the key understanding how to implement corrective actions at the local level. I know I am continually being “re-educated” about the connectivity of the resources in marine ecosystems, and how our fishery practices have impacts beyond the harvest of the target organism. Most recently there is this study that reports how the harvest of sea cucumbers can impact coral survival (Sea cucumbers are the ‘scum suckers’ corals desperately need; https://www.popsci.com/environment/sea-cucumbers-coral-reefs/). This is something that should be considered before another commercial sea cucumber fishery is allowed in the waters of Vava’u.

Good luck in your studies at University of the South Pacific. Marine Science needs more advocates.

Ray Buckley
Professor, Affiliate Faculty
University of Washington
School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences

LikeLike

Welcoming new team for Vava’u Ocean Initiative

Share this:

One response to “Welcoming new team for Vava’u Ocean Initiative”

Leave a comment Cancel reply