MES hosted Ivan Hoe students in Namamanuca Primary School, Yanuya village on the 1-2 October 2014. The group traveled from Sydney with the aim of learning more on the Importance of Reef system in Fiji and chose Mamanuca region as their study site after there first experience last year.
The group of 3 teachers and 20 students spent three days with the Namamanuca Primary School helping out in the school environment program. The MES team conducted an evening Environment presentation to the group highlighting the Importance of Coral reefs and their ecological function to the marine biodiversity and how they play a significant role in community livelihood and to the tourism industry. Best snorkeling practices, proper boat handling and fishing methods were also explained to the students that will promote better coral health. A coral reef viewing was organized at Monuriki Island. The students were reminded by their accompanying teachers that lessons learnt from the presentation should be of high importance when out on field work. Since most of the students were doing snorkeling for the first time, Filomena and Ilisapeci conducted a demonstration session on the use snorkeling gears. Techniques of doing survey were later covered when the students gained more confidence in the water. The Indo Pacific Coral Finder underwater ID book by Russell Kelly was used for general description of coral types.
MES plans to expand this undertaking in developing reference text with inclusion of Sustainable land use and Climate Change.
