MARSHALL ISLANDS, Ailuk Atoll – June 2007
Completion of a solar-powered airport terminal and guest lodge in exchange for conserving 215 acres (six acres terrestrial and 209 acres marine) for a minimum of 10 years at the Enije Channel and Enije Island turtle nesting area
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Located 230 nautical miles north of Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands, remote Ailuk Atoll is characterized by traditional communities who rely primarily on their marine resources for a subsistence lifestyle. The Ailuk community has elected to conserve two important areas, totaling 215 acres, which are in danger of over-exploitation due to their proximity to the main settlement, Ailuk Ailuk. The first is Enije Island, where the highly endangered Pacific Green turtle and Pacific Hawksbill turtle come to nest. The second site is the Enije Channel, a traditional fishing area which is home to large populations of the endangered Humphead wrasse, Humphead parrotfish, grey reef shark, reef white tip shark and reef black tip shark. In exchange for establishing these two no-take reserves totaling 215 acres for a minimum of 10 years, Seacology is providing funding for completion of its airport terminal and guest lodge building, and a solar system to power it.
UPDATE December 2007 - News of the project has been reported in local news sources. By the end of September the upstairs construction and roofing was almost complete and by November the entire building was 85% complete awaiting one final shipment of materials. The Ailuk Local Government council approved the fisheries management plan that includes ordinances for the protected areas in the Seacology agreement. They are waiting for the RMI Attorney General to sign papers as of November 2007.
UPDATE May 2008 - A final report was sent in February 2008. The project was completed in January 2008 with an opening ceremony held at the newly renovated building January 29. With the assistance of the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority, the conservation areas have become part of the fisheries management plan for Ailuk Atoll. The plan was approved by the Ailuk Ook Fisheries Committee, the local government council, and is currently pending signature by a newly elected Attorney General. They expect the plan to be signed by mid-2008.
