Fiji Hub Achievement Report

August 2017 Caqalai

Objective: NSP Programs

Giving back to the Community of Fiji through the

National Scholarship Participants Program

Figure 1: Amelia, our current NSP and Ana, a previous NSP and now full time GVI science team member taking part in spe-
cies identification dives with international volunteers.

Objective
To help and provide an opportunity for local students to be trained in diving and reef survey
techniques that could be useful in long term monitoring processes in their communities and
in Fiji.
To strengthen collaborative relationships with the University of the South Pacific (USP) and
local communities in Fiji.

Introduction
The National Scholarship Participant program is a scholarship awarded by GVI to local Ma-
rine Science graduates from the University of the South Pacific. This scholarship is awarded
to those students who have excelled in their field and have a keen eye for conservation. GVI
works in collaboration with the University of the South Pacific and the community by fur-
thering the education of these students through this scholarship program thus meeting the
long-term objectives of collaboration and education in the local communities.

GVI.2016.1
Report
Since 2015, GVI has awarded a total of 8 scholarships to local students. The scholarship co-
vers their dive training (Open water and Advanced Open Water), Emergency first responder
(EFR) training, science training (fish, benthic life-forms and invertebrate identification) and
food and accommodation on the small island of Caqalai. Recipients of this scholarship are
also trained in surveying coral reefs therefore becoming coral reef research diver certified.
Not only do the students get dive and science training, they also get to experience living
communally and forming new bonds and friendship with people from all walks of life and
from across the globe.

As of this month, we had two NSPs from the University of the South Pacific who had both
completed their degrees in Marine Science and showed interest in the program. Both Ame-
lia Nakaora and Maraia Naisau were thrilled with the provided opportunity and made the
most of it whilst on the island. They learnt how to dive, studied their benthic life-forms and
fish species and contributed towards the long-term monitoring surveys being carried out on
the small island of Caqalai. They also participated in socio economic surveys carried out by
the Community Project team, using FLMMAs questionnaires in the local community of Mo-
turiki, participated in the Education program and equally contributed to the long-term ob-
jectives GVI.

The scholarship participants were offered the task of completing individual small rounded
projects and to present them to the volunteers and staff on their last week on the island.
Amelia focused on the abundance of Synapta spp. (sea cucumber), its relationship with
macro algae and how this shows the health of the reef around Caqalai while Maraia focused
on Crown of thorns starfish (COTS), comparing their abundance and on two different sites of
the island. The data collection for their individual projects was successfully completed with
the help of volunteers and the analyzing and report writing is currently underway.

Conclusion
The NSP program has helped these local students to be able to do more in their field of
studies with the education and training they have received for the three months that they
were on Caqalai. The NSPs have thoroughly enjoyed their stay and have roped in as much
information as they could, absorbed all that they have been taught and guided through and
have planned to continue with their education on a further level using the knowledge that
they have attained during their stay on this beautiful island. The scholarship is an opportune
way of training young locals by providing field experience, enhancing employability, be
more vigilant and aware of the changes in our environment and enabling them to think out-
side the box, in terms of conservation methods and long-term monitoring strategies that
could become useful in their communities in the near future.

GVI.2016.1