The Pacific Island Region contains 22 Pacific Island Countries and Territories, as well as a portion of the Australian continent, both the North and South Islands of New Zealand, and a portion of the Hawaiian Islands. It reportedly supports the most extensive and biologically diverse coral reefs in the world, the deepest ocean trenches, and the world’s largest tuna fishery. The region also supports a range of globally threatened species including at least 30 cetaceans. Threats to cetaceans in the Pacific Island Region include fisheries bycatch, habitat degradation, drive hunts, live captures for captive display and export, and “scientific” whaling in the summer feeding grounds of Fin Whales (Balaenoptera physalus), Minke Whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata sp.) and Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).


This project will consist of a training course on cetacean population assessment techniques for scientists and conservationists (9-12 persons) from the Pacific Islands Region, an intensive cetacean survey in the proposed UNESCO World Heritage Seascape in Fiji  onducted by the training course participants, and follow-up mentoring of 2-3 graduate students from the Pacific Islands in cetacean studies. Tentative plans are to develop the training curriculum and organize survey logistics during April-June 2009, and then conduct the training course and survey in July 2009, with data analysis, write-up and graduate student mentoring supported by the project until December 2010. No abundance estimates or quantitative information on the ecology of any cetacean species are available for Fijian waters, nor does systematic data exist on the threats they face. This includes cetaceans living in waters of the proposed UNESCO World Heritage Seascape.


The objectives of this project are to:
- Increase the capacity of local scientists in the Pacific Islands Region to conduct research on cetaceans and to develop and implement science-based strategies for their conservation
- Assess the conservation status of cetacean populations in the proposed World Heritage Seascape in Fiji, inclusive of the Vatu-i-Ra Channel and waters adjacent to Ovalau, Wakaya, Koro and Gau Islands)
- Integrate cetacean conservation into protected area planning for Fiji and other Pacific Island Countries and Territories
- Strengthen cooperation among Pacific Island Countries and Territories in support of the CMS Memorandum of Understanding for the Conservation of Cetaceans and Their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region
- Identify and mentor 2-3 graduate students from the Pacific Islands Region to continue and build up cetacean work initiated by this project

Indicators of achievement will include:
- Core group of scientists and conservationists from the Pacific Islands Region trained in cetacean population assessment techniques and approaches for conservation management
- Cetacean concerns integrated into marine protected area planning in Fiji
- Information generated and published in a peer-reviewed science journal and popular articles in the local and international media on the status of cetaceans and management strategies for their protection in the proposed UNESCO World Heritage Seascape in Fiji
- Increased awareness among government officials, NGOs, and local communities of the Pacific Island Countries and Territories on the status of cetaceans and promote cooperation on implementing measures needed for their conservation


See the full project proposal here (Fiji Capacity Building and Survey project PDF)


IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), USA
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) International, UK

COLLABORATING AGENCIES
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program
University of the South Pacific
Fiji Department of Fisheries