Nguna-Pele Marine Protected Area

All activities undertaken in the Nguna-Pele MPA are done in cooperation with the traditional landowners and chiefs of the participating villages on Nguna & Pele. From the promotion of environmentally sound living practices to the efforts to monitor a critically endangered marine species, the MPA strives for an improved quality of life for locals.

Sea Turtle Tagging The Nguna-Pele MPA has joined forces with the local NGO Wan Smol Bag in their efforts to save the gravely endangered sea turtle. Under the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme's turtle-tagging project, Smol Bag trains 'Vanuata'i Turtle Monitors' in communities throughout the country who's primary responsibility is the conservation of Vanuatu's four species of sea turtle. Our staff catch, tag and release wild sea turtles. You can sponsor a tagged sea turtle, either in person or by sending in your sponsorship donation.

Data, such as species, gender, and size are collected and recorded in an international Sea Turtle Database. Our tagged turtles have roamed as far as North Queensland and New Caledonia. Click here to view our list of tagged turtles.
Reef Monitoring & Protection The MPA now encompasses an area of over 3000 hectares, making it one of the most extensive reserves in Vanuatu. Each participating village has set aside one or two reefs inside its boundary to be permanently protected for conservation. MPA staff monitor the reefs inside and outside the protected areas on a regular basis. We use the Reef Check monitoring protocol, which allows us to monitor changes in coral cover, abundances and sizes of reef fish & important invertebrates like giant clams and biche-de-mer (sea cucumbers).

Vanuatu's National Reef Monitoring Network, under the auspices of the Fisheries Department, has held several workshops to train villagers from communties throughout the country in the Reef Check technique. Now, reefs around Vanuatu will be monitored every three months, and data will be submitted to a central location for analysis. It is a giant step in the right direction for preservation of Vanuatu's coral reefs!

Coral Mariculture To promote the healthy regeneration of area reefs after cyclone damage or other anthropogenic disturbances, the Nguna-Pele MPA has focused on coral farming or mariculture. The MPA has pioneered a new technique for coral mariculture, the growing of coral for conservation. By bringing coral back to depopulated areas, the MPA is encouraging the return of an entire ecosystem, including fish and other invertebrates. By attaching broken coral fragments to cement disks, we can move rare or uncommon coral species to disturbed areas inside the MPA. This, in addition to the natural recruitment of reefs influenced by tides and currents, helps to ensure the health of the reef.

Community Awareness Getting numerous local villages to conserve important marine species is no easy task. It takes a lot of time with families and individuals talking about the benefits of sustainable resource use. Community lectures, village cleanup campaigns, and school outtings are all part of the MPA's ongoing environmental awareness programme.

web design and development, Elise Brown 2006