PADI Project AWARE Environmental Achievement Award Awarded to Matava

Matava has been awarded the PADI Project AWARE Environmental Achievement Award 2008 for its policies on environmental sustainability 
KADAVU, FIJI ISLANDS - 5th Februuary 2008 - Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco-Adventure Resort is proud to announce that it is an official 2008 recipient of The PADI Project AWARE Environmental Achievement Award.

Project AWARE Foundation Chairman, Dr. Drew Richardson recognizes the importance of the scuba diving community taking its part in protection of global ecosystems. "The Project AWARE Environmental Achievement Award   is about rewarding vision, excellence and pursuit of conservation. More importantly, this award ensures the enjoyment of underwater environments for future generations," states Richardson.

"Our awards recognise dive operators making a positive impact on local communities and the environment, as well as providing great dive holidays! The number of outstanding environmental programs taking place is inspiring," said Joanna McNamara, Project AWARE Coordinator.

After reviewing Matava's application, Project AWARE determined that our dive operation met all requirements set forth for Project AWARE's Environmental Achievement Award and shown exemplary efforts to conserve aquatic environments through education, advocacy and action. Therefore, Project AWARE was proud to name Matava an official 2008 recipient!

Matava Director, Mr Richard Akhtar says "The PADI Project AWARE Environmental Achievement Award gives us special environmental recognition and shows our customers that we are responsible and committed to reducing the environmental impacts of our business."

"After 6 years of hard work and commitment to our strict environmental policies, it is rewarding to be recognized by our international scuba certification agency"

Mr Akhtar went on to say that "..after our recent major resort upgrade in early 2008, and the addition of our new high-tech solar power plant solution for the Main Bure, kitchen and The Terrace restaurant area, we believe we are the leader in eco-sustainable resorts in the country."

Mr Akhtar finished by saying "Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco-Adventure Resort has proved that it is indeed among the leaders in environmentally sensitive resorts worldwide, and this latest award solidifies our position as an example of how resorts can operate AND help maintain and improve the surrounding environment." 

Project AWARE Foundation, a registered nonprofit organization, works in direct partnership with divers and water enthusiasts to conserve underwater environments through education, advocacy and action.   To get involved in environmental activities and make a lasting difference visit www.projectaware.org 

Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, is an eco adventure getaway offering you a fun and unique blend of cultural experiences and adventure activities in the environmentally pristine and remote island of Kadavu in the Fiji Islands.


Matava offers accommodation for up to 22 guests in lush tropical surroundings in traditional thatched Fijian 'bures' with hardwood polished floors, louvre windows and private decks offering privacy, comfort and superb ocean views


Mad Fish Dive Centre and Bite-Me Gamefishing Charters are our on-site diving and fishing specialists offering the best of both under and on the water activities.

www.Matava.com      www.Scuba-Diving-Fiji.com      www.GamefishingFiji.com

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PADI Project AWARE Environmental Achievement Award Awarded to Matava - FIJI SCUBA DIVING - Dive the best of Fiji Diving with Mad Fish Dive Centre, Kadavu, Fiji Islands

Students breed clams for future - Fiji Times Online

Students breed clams for future

SAKIASI NAWAIKAMA

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Students of Vunisea transfer young clams for breeding along the reef.

STUDENTS of Vunisea Secondary School in Kadavu are playing an instrumental role in breeding clams.

Seven students, under the guidance of Kadavu Yaubula management support team coordinator Josaia Ravulo, went on a clam diving expedition on Friday and were given first-hand practical lessons about the breeding program.
The marine studies program at Vunisea Secondary School is sponsored by AusAID and is in its third module this term.
Mr Ravulo said the students would be involved in practical research aspects of marine life, particularly the breeding of clams.
He led the students on an early morning dive for young clams to be transferred to Cevai, Ravitaki, Galoa and Solovola villages.
The students snorkelled in a passage at Solovola Village for young clams that were bred in a cage and transferred to the Ravitaki, Cevai, Muani and the islands of Matanuku and Galoa.
The young clams were transferred into triangular cages for their relocation and the students were instructed to secure the cages against rocks to keep away predators.
The clams were kept in the water in a sack and transferred to Muani and Galoa on Saturday.
Vunisea Secondary School principal Serupepeli Udre said the program was introduced early this year where students were taught how to mould a fibreglass boat and maintain and repair outboard engines.

Students breed clams for future - Fiji Times Online

OceanNEnvironment

OceanNEnvironment only undertake projects that yield measurable goals and objectives.

Our positional statements are:

• 
  
  The single MOST important reason why coral reefs are dying is that there are too many people on this planet. We believe that if the focuses of our conservation efforts are directed to benefit the local people, like feeding them, or providing them with resources to benefit from the eco - tourism, the reef will save itself.
• If long-term conservation is to take place - it is dependent on our capacity to persuade local people that they will be ‘better off’ protecting the natural system than degrading it, by creation of markets for goods and services in an environmentally manner.
• If local people gain from sustainable use of the coral reef through tourism, they will protect this asset and may even invest future resources into it. Marine parks and reserves cannot survive without the support of the local people.
• We believe that understanding, appreciation and love begets preservation and protection people can only protect and preserve what they love therefore it is important that they have affinity and connection to the environment. In this aspect OceanNEnvironment actively support marine research and educational programs with financial grants

See : OceanNEnvironment

Information and support of the cause to end whaling

We at Matava recommend these sites for their information and support of the cause to end whaling.

• Greenpeace
• Boycott Japan
• International Fund For Animal Welfare
• Sea Shepherd
• World Wildlife Fund
• Natural Resources Defence Council
• Save the Whales
• Whale Nation

Many of the sites listed above also have anti-whaling petitions and projects to support and protect whales.

I urge you to help these organisations with all their endeavours. While we may not directly agree with the tactics used by some groups we understand and respect the resolve they show in the campign to save the whales. One thing we all have in common is a love of these amazing marine mammals.

Pacific Marine Reserve Proposal Welcomed

Greenpeace International

GREENPEACE PROPOSES MARINE RESERVES FOR WORLD'S THIRD LARGEST ORGANISM

Suva, Fiji Islands, May 23, 2007. The Kadavu (1) Provincial Council today welcomed a presentation from Greenpeace on the benefits of turning the Great Astrolabe Reef into a marine reserve.

Kadavu Provincial Council Chairman Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo said the idea of creating a new marine reserve was a blessing and would enhance the protection of marine resources in the interest of the people of Kadavu. "For the people of Kadavu and most Pacific Islanders, the oceans and our resources are mainly what we have and own, for them to remain healthy we must all move towards marine reserves," he said. Ratu Josateki said marine reserves could also be a major attraction for ecotourists.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific Oceans campaigner Josua Turaganivalu JNR said it was an honour to be given an opportunity to present to the chiefs of Kadavu, the council and its people. "Many Pacific marine resources, including tuna, are on the verge of extinction and yet only one per cent of the ocean is protected," he said.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific Oceans Team Leader Nilesh Goundar said marine reserves have shown long lasting and often rapid increases in marine populations, their diversity and production. "Conservation mechanisms are not new to us Pacific Islanders. Despite marine reserves being closed to fishing, a network of such parks can actually benefit fisheries in a number of ways," he said.

Mr Goundar said they allow exploited stocks and damaged habitats to recover within the zones and increasingly there is evidence that they improve population sizes in adjacent fishing grounds. "But it is not just about the fish. In line with the ecosystem approach, marine reserves can and should be designed to have multiple uses. They should be established to benefit endangered and rare species or habitats, critical feeding grounds, nursery areas and migration routes," he said.

To reverse the current decline in the health of our oceans, Greenpeace is calling for 40% of the oceans to be protected by marine reserves.

Mr Turaganivalu said this was a reasonable target and necessary for maintaining healthy fisheries in the Pacific. Mr Turaganivalu said it is estimated that such a network could cost $12 billion a year - and finance would have to be provided by the international community. He said this was no more than what is spent on perfume in the U.S and E.U each year.

EDITORS NOTE
(1) Kadavu is one of Fiji's fourteen provinces, forms part of the Eastern Division and is home to the Great Astrolabe Reef which is the world's third largest living organism.
Suva, Fiji's capital, lies 88 kilometers to the north of Kadavu.

Establish a Global Ban on Shark Finning

Petition Target: Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General

It's too barbaric to imagine, but it still happens. Fishermen catch a shark, slice off its fins, and then, cast it back into the water to die. This horrific practice is already prohibited in federal waters of the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Carribbean, but sharks need more protection from finning and other threats.

Your signature can encourage all countries to prepare and implement plans for shark conservation and management as recommended by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

This petition also implores these nations to ban the cruel, wasteful and destructive practice of shark finning in local and international waters. This practice wastes 95-99% of the animal and makes proper management extremely difficult.

Sharks play a critical role in ocean ecosystems. Their numbers are beginning to dwindle. Please help them today!!

Sign Now to encourage Ban Ki-Moon and the UN General Assembly to take action immediately to protect the shark populations across the globe and stop shark finning