Tehakatu'u Marine Protected Area
From Noonsite.com
Solomon Islands: Provincial Government registers Marine Protected Area
The first Solomon Island community to request assistance from OceansWatch to help them manage their marine resources, on Rennell Island, has had their Marine Protected Area recognised by the Provincial Government.
OceansWatch Solomon Island's director Willie Sau Kaitu'u reports: "The Rennell Bellona provincial Executive agreed in their meeting today, to recognize the Marine Protected Area on Rennell Island."
"Logging at Rennell Island; Solomon Islands paradise and MPA site" - bigbluereview blog site
Aside from overfishing, there are very few anthropogenic impacts on this area of coast. According to Oceanswatch, there is hardly any pollution from sewage, waste or industries, no commercial fishing or collection of species for the aquarium and curio trade.
After research was carried out, a part of the region’s coast known as ‘Area 25’ was chosen for the MPA. This area was chosen for its rich coral-life form, live coral cover, diversity and reef structure. The area was also considered idea for protection as it is a distance from the coastal villages, making natural access more difficult so the tribe decided on implementing the following regulations on Area 25:
– No fishing by any method
– No collecting of any shells
– No collecting of any invertebrates
– No harvesting of seaweed
– No catching of live fish
– No rubbish on the beach
– No harvesting of corals
The total area of the MPA is 21.08ha and following a baseline study of species and habitat, an agreement was reached between the Tehakatu’u Conservation Committee and Oceanswatch to uphold the protective status of this area of ocean and continue to monitor its progress.
More Information:
https://oceanswatch.org/locations/solomon-islands
