TONGA, Ovaka Village - January 2012
Refurbishment of an existing community hall and its facilities; and new bathroom, water tank, gutters and furnishings in exchange for support of 215 hectares (531 acres) of Fish Habitat Reserves for a minimum of 10 years
Like many island and coastal communities in Tonga, the small community of Ovaka is facing the fast depletion of its inshore fisheries resources, loss of fish habitat, and land erosion. The main causes include overexploitation of reef fish, use of destructive and efficient fishing methods, land-based environmental disturbances caused by human activities, and natural disturbances due to climate changes. The Ovaka Special Managed Area (SMA), with a total area of 1,140 hectares (2,817 acres, including Ovaka Island and Avalau Island) was one of the first six SMAs that the Government of Tonga declared in 2008. Similarly to other SMAs, the Ovaka SMA already has an Action Plan that been developed with the assistance of the Ministry of Fisheries. However, there is little understanding of how effectively the SMA has been managed since its formal declaration. Increased community involvement in monitoring is crucial as part of effective management of the Fish Habitat Reserves (FHR) within the SMA. The Ovaka village hall, which is used by adults and children alike for meetings, activities, and as an accommodation for visitors to the island, is badly in need of an upgrade. In exchange for Seacology’s assistance in upgrading the hall, the community will actively manage their 215 hectare (531-acre) Fish Habitat Reserves for a minimum duration of 10 years. This project is very similar to that in Felemea, Tonga, which was visited by a Seacology expedition in 2011.
