The GEF Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project in

The GEF Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project in Vanuatu PROTECTING DUGONGS CONSERVING SEAGRASS CHANGE FOR COMMUNITIES

The Vanuatu project partners The Vanuatu Environmental Science Society The Vanuatu Fisheries Department The Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation Implementing partner Project Partner

Project Activities Update the information about the distribution of dugongs in Vanuatu and the threats they face. Increase awareness of dugongs and seagrass Nation Plan of Action for dugongs and their seagrass habitat.

Updating distribution and threat information

CMS dugong catch /by-catch questionnaire

Interviews with villagers and fishermen

Travelling for the dugong questionnaire

Sites: 193 sites were visited on 32 islands in all 6 provinces during the survey in 2016/7 Number of Respondents: 530 community members interviewed Gender: 62 women (11. 7%) gave responses to the questionnaire. Age: 0. 9% respondents under 15 yrs 13% 15 to 25 years 64% 26 -50 yrs 0. 4% over 50 yrs.

Dugong and seagrass areas

Dugong sightings Sightings: 1433 sightings of dugongs were recorded during the survey. 895 of them were from 2015 -2017 (852 live, 18 dead, 25 not specified).

Perceptions 90% of respondents say that dugongs are important. 45% think there are more dugongs than before, 23% think there are less and 14% think there are the same.

Threats Of the 116 dead dugong sightings recorded, in 44 the cause was unknown, 28 killed in nets, 13 were stranded on shore and 12 were hunted In the last 10 years only 4 were reported as hunted.

Fishing occurs all year round Majority in un-motorised canoes (38%) or boats under 10 meters with outboard motors (41%). 30% of fishers report using gillnets. More than half (56%) said they leave the nets unattended.

Fishing gear

Dugongs and tourism 34% of respondents said they know of a tourism activity where tourists could see dugongs. 67% of them said see dugongs was incidental during a tour for another purpose. The majority allow tourism in the water with the dugongs. Most people (79%) know that you need a licence to for a dugong-watching tour.

Dugongs and the law 90% of respondents know it is against the law to kill a dugong on purpose But only 50% know it is illegal to kill one by accident, 25% of respondents did not know and 25% thought it was not illegal if it was an accident.

Dugong hotspots During NFC meeting in November 2017 and in subsequent consultations participants looked at the following maps: Dugong areas, seagrass areas and dugong sightings Areas where communities reported more than 10 dugongs that overlap with gillnet fishing areas Areas where communities reported 2 to 10 dugongs that overlap with gillnet fishing areas Gillnet fishing density overlapping with dead dugong sightings

Maps produced to establish the Dugong hotspot areas

Dugong hotspots The hotspots were identified as the areas where: The local community said there were 2 to > 10 dugongs that overlapped with areas where the local community said they use gillnets for fishing and / or Where significant numbers of dugong sightings, particularly dead dugongs, were reported.

Hotspot prioritisation The twenty hotspots were assigned a priority for conservation measures of high, medium or low as a result of discussions with the local experts about other threats that are likely to be present in the areas. Other threats include development, high human population, tourism and high boat traffic. Six were considered of high priority, nine medium priority and five of low priority.

Dugong hotspots – provincial maps

Awareness and Outreach

Awareness Materials

Dugong and Seagrass Exhibition Dugong Exhibition at the National Archive in August 2017. 332 people came to the exhibition which ran for 2 weeks 126 school children, 206 adults 147 male and 185 female. Included an art workshop for children and evening talk on dugongs.

Dugong handicraft and art competition

Dugong Eco bags

Awareness and Outreach: Need identified Education about dugong friendly fishing techniques Education about good tourism practices including alternatives to trying to tame or catch a dugong for tourism. Increase awareness of the legal protections of dugongs.

Policy

Policies influences by the results of questionnaire Data and maps generated by the project are being used in the process of identifying Special and Unique marine areas in Vanuatu under the Oceans Policy with view to create a network of marine reserves in Vanuatu by 2020. Data and maps generated by the project are being used in the drafting of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, currently being drafted. Guidelines for tourists and code of conduct for tourism operators have been written and will be incorporated into the Department of Tourism’s minimum standards for the tourism sector. In 2018 a National plan of action for dugongs and their seagrass habitat will be written, including review of dugong protection under Fisheries Act.

Seagrass assessment and monitoring

Training Workshop on Seagrass Watch techniques for Seagrass monitoring and assessments

Summary of Progress on the project Dugongs: maps and data on distribution and threats thorough out Vanuatu Seagrass: maps and data on distribution throughout Vanuatu. Data on composition, distribution and abundance for 2 sites Policies: Dugong hotspots and data used in to identify special and unique marine areas and contribution to NBSAP. Guidelines for tourism operators to be incorporated into minimum standards. Communities: 530 community members interviewed throughout Vanuatu and given educational materials. 2 community participating in monitoring seagrass in a dugong hotspot

Challenges to conservation and research in Vanuatu Small remote developing countries such as Vanuatu face significant challenges to conserving threatened species such as: A lack of, even baseline, scientific data on the species and their habitats Limited capacity and human resources for scientific research Geography Natural disasters Limited and expensive transport networks to the majority of the islands Lack of funding

Advantages to conservation in Vanuatu Being small and remote can also be an advantage: : Rural population may not be cash rich but not desperate – less opportunity cost to change in behaviour Land tenure – custom owned and therefore a true sense of guardianship over the land natural resources. Intact traditional management practices in many communities. Empathy and desire in many communities to help and protect the animals and plants.

Plans for 2018 Policies: National plan of action for dugongs and their seagrass habitat. Finalise and launch tourism guidelines. Awareness: Finalise awareness workshop materials and conduct awareness workshops in at least 4 dugong hotspots Incorporate dugong and seagrass conservation actions into the management plans for community conservation areas in at least 50% of the high priority hotspots Seagrass assessments using Seagrass Watch protocols in at least 2 more hotspot areas (additional activity with CEPF funding) Conduct aerial surveys with UAV in at least 4 hotspot areas (additional activity with CEPF funding)

Keys to success so far and benefits beyond deliverables of the project

The National Facilitating Committee

Access to international experts and tools Access to tools such as the dugong catch / by-catch questionnaire Advice from international experts Checking of educational materials and tourism guidelines. Assisted with project proposals to other funders Assisting with project and survey design e. g. aerial survey

Creating capacity Two Ni-Vanuatu marine scientists have been employed on the project. 5 Ni-Vanuatu students assisted with the questionnaires 8 Vanuatu scientist have been trained in seagrass assessment and monitoring.

Leveraging further funding Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) small grant to produce education materials CEPF large grant to extend the activities of the dugong and seagrass project to conduct aerial surveys with drones and start Seagrass Watch in Vanuatu. Supply of equipment to improve seagrass assessments and monitoring from CEFAS and Commonwealth marine Economies project.

Engaging a volunteer Australian volunteer to assist with developing appropriate eco-tourism involving wildlife in Vanuatu.

Benefits for VESS Establishment of the organisation Confidence to design further studies Credibility to apply for future funding

Vanuatu’s dugongs have a reputation of being friendly To watch the video please visit: https: //youtu. be/Pa. Ix. Xd. FBl. Wg

Interview with Joseph Soksok To watch the video please visit: https: //youtu. be/3 Olui. Y 6 wpp. U

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