Conservation – Education – Community – Future
2021 was an intense year for the VEPA board and team, achieving many goals and highlights through the year. We know that vast challenges still lay ahead and that no one year will provide a solution however every small step taken is one step closer. We are as always very thankful to our funding and…
Blog by Sesimani Loni, SMA Project Manager, Vava’u Ocean Initiative Fisheries is one vital part of food security for all human being and here in Tonga most people rely on fisheries for daily consumptions and income however due to depletion of marine resources, especially from our coastal waters. The Ministry of Fisheries and Government of…
Well actually the thorns mostly hit our fingers and for many of us the memories of the week stay in the tingling tips of our fingers. What were we up to? Removing those nasty, spine heavy starfish called Crown of Thorns (COTS), (Acanthaster planci) or locally known as ‘Alamea. Did you know that COTS can…
INTRODUCTION The Vava’u Environmental Protection Association (VEPA) is a NGO based in Neiafu, Vava’u dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity, increasing community knowledge of environmental issues and securing sustainable livelihoods for future generations. VEPA operates a range of terrestrial and marine based projects to achieve this goal. VEPA recently collaborated with Ocean Ambassadors, working together…
Ngaahi ‘elia ‘o e ‘Oseni ‘I he’etau hiki atu mei he ngaahi matafanga pea mo e ngaahi nofo’anga hakau feo ‘I he tahi mamaha, tongo pea mo e ngaahi ‘elia matatahi, ‘oku liliu ‘e ‘oseni hono fotunga ha mai (maama( fakatupu ‘e he maama), mafana pea mo hono ivi malohi) pea pehe foki ki he…
As we leave the shorelines and the shallow water habitats of coral reefs, mangroves and intertidal zones, the ocean changes its physical (light (photic), temperature and pressure) as well as biological and ecological characteristics. Within the deep ocean there are 5 specific interconnected vertical layers: Epipelagic or Photic Layer: found within the upper 200 meters…
Featured Photo credit: © Konstantin Tkachenko/Marine Photobank Cheilinus undulatus – Tangafa IUCN Red List of Species: Endangered Other common names: Napoleon wrasse, Maori wrasse. Family: Wrasses/Labridae …
Story and photos by Aneira Hasson…. “I chose this design based on what Tongan’s call ‘tauhi vā’, which is the idea of special awareness. The coconut leaves of the structure are bound – similar to how a traditional Tongan house would have been – and I just wanted to have fun with it, play around,…
4th July – Kings Birthday (Public Holiday) 13th July – Agriculture Show The fun and the madness begins – check back soon for more details. 15th September – World Clean Up Day Get ready for another Plog!