Benthic Resource Baseline Mapping of Cakaunisasi and Yarawa Reef Ecosystem in the Ba Region of Fiji

Abstract

Coastal habitats form a critical source of livelihood for a large number of inhabitants in Fiji. The absence of historical and baseline information creates a significant challenge in effectively designing suitable management plans. This study aimed at developing reliable benthic cover maps of village intertidal resource harvest areas (Cakaunisasi and Yarawa reefs) and anthropogenic perceptions of Votua Village in the Ba region of Fiji for better resource management planning and monitoring. Images captured by the WorldView2 satellite were used as a base for mapping out the resources. Data logging on-site, Global Positioning System (GPS) recordings, local interviews and high-resolution video capturing were utilised for ground-truthing techniques. Six classes of benthic cover were identified, which included algae, coral, sand and gravel, buried reef, coral rubble and seagrass. Accuracy assessment and supervised classification were done using ground reference points. There was an existing marine protected area (MPA) on the Yarawa reef, which did not seem to be working as well as anticipated by observing the habitat maps of the two reefs. Baseline maps constructed here and possibly ecosystem maps can allow for monitoring of the existing MPA as well as the formation of a new and more informed MPA. The maps generated in this study serve as baseline information about resource distribution on Cakaunisasi and Yarawa reefs to inform management decisions.

Current Trends and Issues in Applications of Remote Sensing in Coastal and Marine Conservation

“…It contributes to the mapping of marine and coastal habitats and ecosystem services and, hence, the provision of the evidence base that underpins marine conservation policy. In addition, local stakeholders are also a source of valuable in situ knowledge pivotal for developing regional knowledge that can be used for MPA conservation and management purposes [22,[30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37].…”

“…The information generated by littoral 'citizen science' networks and stakeholders and gained using innovative tools, such crowdsourcing with smartphone apps or content analysis of geo-tagged photographs from freely accessible photo-sharing platforms and analyzed semi-automatically [22], can be of sufficient quality to fill the gaps of reliable time-series data requirement, create the baseline maps, and gauge the effectiveness of MPA management plans if it is collected in a standardized way, along with information cross-checking and validation using social research methods, such as suitably designed questionnaires, socioeconomic surveys, Delphi technique, and focus groups [31,[35][36][37][38].…”

“…Therefore, as mentioned, there is a need for strict accuracy testing and firm reference baselines for the maps generated with contributions from 'citizen science' across a variety of habitats, since a false judgment about habitat change can lead to a disproportional management response [22,31,36]. As noted by Failler et al [31], the validity of information on the marine habitats delivered by MPA managers and other coastal and marine stakeholders must be scrutinized during work on the establishment of stocktaking procedures, baseline situation assessment, research on habitat changes, inter alia, especially with so-called Rapid Appraisal Approaches.…”

“…The hybrid baseline maps generated with contributions from 'citizen science' and RS can be integrated with the aim of monitoring a wide array of parameters [36]. In this way, improved RS techniques, coupled with conventional on-site monitoring methods and 'citizen science' input, may help close a few gaps in MPA monitoring [39].…”

Race, ethnicity, and class issues in Fiji soccer 1980-2015

“…For example, Ravuama Madigi's goal in Fiji's 1-0 win over Australia on 26 November 1988 is often perceived in these terms. Singh's Fiji Times match-report, on page 32 of the Monday, 28 November, 1988 newspaper, was entitled: 'Ba Magic lifts Fiji to Victory;' 48 (c) Psychological theory whereby it is believed by some individuals that African-Americans lack the intellect or emotional control required of sports leaders. Fiji-Indian stereotypes of indigenous Fijians as being lazy and ill-disciplined and prone to drunkenness (or at least too committed to customary traditional obligations and commitments) mirror white stereotypes about black footballers referred to in prior literature.…”