Pitufa.at

Matuku was the first island in the Lau group we visited with our Pitufa in July 2022. The little island doesn’t see many yachts as it lies off the beaten track and we were amazed by the hospitality the villagers showed us and the wonderful underwater landscapes that we found just off our anchorage.

During our second visit in Matuku we started raising awareness for sustainability among the villagers, starting with the kids (drawing colourful parrot fishies and talking about their role in the eco-system) and finally doing presentations for the chiefs and headmen about the problem of overfishing. We found that the fishermen were already concerned about dropping numbers of fish and eager to hear solutions for sustainable fishing. We explained our experiences among Pacific Islands and suggested installing no-fishing areas.

Returning to Matuku in February, we were happy to hear that some villages were planning to implement no-fishing-zones, but then we had a horrible boat accident while scouting out a possible location for a tabu on the Southern side of the island, that left me with serious injuries and ended fatal for Maikeli Tamani, the headman of Makadru village…

A week after the accident we managed to sail back to Suva and only after having x-rays and a CT scan done, did we finally realise how serious my injuries were. 5 broken ribs, a pneumothorax and a partially torn triceps tendon…

Spending my days on the sofa in Pitufa’s salon without being able to move around, I started contemplating how we could turn the accident into something positive. My idea of buying medical equipment for the hospital in Matuku failed due to bureaucratic hurdles, but we wanted at least to help the villagers implementing their marine protection area.

We tried to raise local interest in Matuku and the planned Tabu by giving an interview to the Fiji Sun newspaper

We kept in touch with “our island” and are now happy to announce that the final decision to install 3 big, permanent no-fishing-zones! has been made!

The villages of Matuku will need some financial help installing and patrolling their Marine Reserve.

Tony Philp of Vuda Marina and Coprashed Marina has gracefully offered to provide ground tackle and buoys to mark the borders of the Marine Reserve, thanks Tony!
We still would need some funding to support the efforts of the islanders to protect their reef. They will need to patrol the area (especially at night) to make sure no outsiders ruin their Tabu with illegal spearfishing, so we would like to donate fuel for that. It would also be good to print posters and brochures to inform the villagers, schoolkids as well as visitors about sustainable fishing in general, the permanent ban on fishing in the area and the reasons for it. Last but not least a Tabu committee will have to monitor the success of the project, count fish populations and publish the effects and advantages of the protection zone, so the villagers will keep backing it!

It may sound presumptuous to ask for money for our little project here in times of war and crises, but maybe you’d still like to help us out. You can either do this on the spot by anchoring your yacht in Matuku to enjoy the wonderful snorkeling on the pristine reef and put your donation straight into the “Marine reserve boxes” that will be with the headmen of the neighbouring villages Yaroi and Lomati. Or you could press the “donate button” below this entry and do a paypal transfer. We’ll publish all sums and the names of donors as comments here on the blog (unless you mention in the paypal transfer that you’d rather stay anonymous)

Scientific models predict an El Niño period for the next (southern) summer, meaning that we can expect rising ocean surface temperatures. The consequences here in the Pacific will be most likely more severe cyclones and bleached coral reefs (and many other types of catastrophes around the world).
Coral can only recover from storm damages and bleaching when lots of herbivore fish keep the weak reef clean by eating algae that would otherwise suffocate the remaining coral. Without those cleaners the reefs will be overgrown and have no chance to grow back.

So what can we do?
- Parrot fish are the most efficient cleaners of the reef, so if you are spearfishing (which you shouldn’t as most reefs are overfished already) please don’t kill any parrot fish!
- Don’t buy parrot fish from locals and make sure it’s not in the dish you order at the restaurant.
- Explain to the local fishermen and women why these fishies are so important for their reefs. By fishing them out they are actively destroying their future income… Most locals don’t know about the importance of parrot fish!

Coral reefs provide shelter for an enormous biodiversity and supply the islanders with sustainable food (if they don’t export reef fish and make sure not to overfish key species). Make it clear to them: NO REEF, NO FISH!
Most people don’t know that the coral reef relies on herbivore fish to keep it clean and healthy. Explain: NO FISH, NO REEF!

Here are two links that summarise the impact of el Niño and the role parrotfish have in the eco-system pretty well and help you arguing in favour of our colourful cleaner friends.