An Overview Of Our Solution
Ebiil Camp - Fishery Monitoring
Who is this solution impacting?
Ecosystem
Lautan/Pantai
Community Type
Pedesaan
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: Oceania
Problem
Describe the problem
Ebiil Channel (MPA) is a vital traditional fishing area for the people of Ollei, Ngerchelong, originally conserved by the fishermen of Ollei. Northern Lagoon is perhaps one of the most productive and resilient reef in support of the Nation’s fishing industry. As such its monitoring is an important indicator of its health and vitality. Weather there are more or less fish being caught, where in the Northern Lagoon are they being caught, and for what purpose. This are important indicators that must be regularly monitored in order to determine if the conservation site provides any means of replenishing effect to the reefs and can be identified as an important environmental solution to the continuation of the fishing industry and the life and culture of the Palauan people.
Biodiversity Impact
The focus of the project is to conduct a fishery monitoring activity for 12 months in Ollei, Ngerchelong. The monitoring will be conducted with the local fishermen to monitor the amount of fish caught in all the various reefs within the Northern Lagoon. The results will be used to determine if the conservation site provides any benefit to the lives of the Ngerchelong people, particularly the fishermen, and eventually the people of Palau. A preliminary survey demonstrated a spillover effect of the protected area of Ebiil Channel and possibly that the very reef sharing boundaries with the conservation site is what has sustained the fishing industry of the Northern part of Palau. However, because of funding limitations, the survey was conducted for only 1 month and not enough to stand on and claim a strong conclusion of spillover effect. Therefore a 12 month long survey will be conducted (Nov 2011-Nov 2012) and the results will be used to strengthen conservation campaigns in local communities. As a result of the preliminary study, the participants learn of the reef names, fish diversity of the Northern Lagoon, various fishing techniques applicable to fish in their specific habitats, lunar cycles in connection to tide and fish behavior, and stories of the reefs by the fishermen. On the other hand critical data is collected for measuring of the effectiveness of the conservation site and probable impact on the lagoon and the lives of the people who depend on the reef for their income, livelihood, and cultural resource.
Solution
This particular project focuses on translating of local policies into impact on community livelihood. Often time lack of impact studies on conservation policies to demonstrate impact on human lives can lead to skepticism amongst fishermen who depend on the reefs for their livelihood and survival. Ebiil Channel has earned its reputation for its coral diversity and as a major fish aggregation area, with over 50 species of fish most important to Palauans gathering in the area to reproduce. It has identified as a major marine replenishing source for the Northern Lagoon and Palau as a whole following the ocean's current flow. Palauƒ??s rich marine biota include approximately 400 species of hard corals, 300 species of soft corals, 1400 species of reef fishes, 7 out of 9 of the worldƒ??s species of giant clams, thousands of other invertebrates (many still to be identified), the worldƒ??s most isolated colony of dugongs (a relative of the sea cow) and Micronesiaƒ??s only saltwater crocodiles. The results will increase and promote conservation support from local fishermen and communities as managers and users of natural resources, at the same time provide conservation education of young people as future users and managers of local natural resources. // The area to be monitored is the entire Northern lagoon. The Northern Lagoon encompasses an area of approximately 200 km?ý of enclosed reefs and lagoons with a complex system of rich marine biodiversity and fish spawning aggregations. The Lagoon, contains numerous patch reefs, pinnacles, and reef holes. Deep-water channels situated along Palauƒ??s Northern Barrier Reef are spawning areas for groupers and other commercially important fishes. Ebiil Channel, only a few miles north of Ngarchelong, is one of the most important grouper spawning sites in Palau, prompting the community of Ngarchelong to make it a specially managed conservation area.
Replicability
How many years has your solution been applied? 1 year // Have others reproduced your solution elsewhere? No // The administering team which will consist of local fishermen and fish market attendants, will be responsible for collecting of the data at Site (A) and (B) and a team of young people will be recruited as part of Camp Ebiil research training to compile the data for analysis and reporting. The research camp target age group is 15-24 and as part of their capacity building training, they will assist with the survey whenever possible or during non-school time. The results will be; 1. Shared with local community particularly the fishermen and those utilizing the resources of the northern lagoon for their livelihood (community meetings) 2. Shared with agencies of related purposes at the national and regional level as well as the international level (websites upload, workshops, conferences, and stakeholder meetings) 3. Used to support and strengthen the Camp Ebiil education of protecting nature through culture (Camp Ebiil) 4. the results will be disseminated through the local television network for overall Republic wide education (at least 3 times during and after the project) Project Sustainability The tools and methodology developed as a result of the survey will be used later on as part of Camp Ebiil to monitor the fishery of the Northern Lagoon in order to determine the environmental changes and impact on the local fishery for a period of 5 years. The results can be used for developing of strategies for the protection of reefs in sustaining fisheries, community livelihood, economic opportunities, and related cultural traditions.
Human Well Being and Livelihood Impact
Camp Ebiil was originally designed to provide a strategic approach to the conservation of the environment through education of ethnic knowledge on nature and culture. The community’s effort in providing a participatory learning medium for young people has consistently drawn huge number of interest from parents eager to enroll their children every year in the last 7 years. The initial concept of the camp was to develop ethnic pride through indigenous knowledge training that promotes respect and peaceful interaction with nature. Camp Ebiil as an organization promoting community-based education applies the traditional concept of educating youth and requires the participants to live in a “Baiâ€, a traditional community center to live and learn from the community experts as teachers. The camp is sustained through community volunteering and donations based on the common believe that successful children are a result of strong community ties. The program’s intent is to plant seeds of knowledge that may be used later on in a child’s life to bring forth the Palauan wisdom “llomes el reng†– “light in the heart.†Integrated into the cultural studies are Palauan values and virtues of compassion, respect of “mother earth,†respect to life, acceptance and adaptation, peaceful negotiations, etc. The results will be disseminated Republic Wide and shared for adoption. // The community provides the venue for the camp, teachers for traditional skills and knowledge, local food in the form donations, agricultural areas for studies and harvesting of crops, teaching of fishing techniques that provides consistent fish supplies, transportation for land and sea, and support volunteers during the camp. Camp counselors and community volunteers are recruited and trained to provide care and guidance for the younger participants a month before the camp begins. About 90% of the counselors are graduated campers and are familiar with the camp. Many of the counselors become members of the society. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors of 7 members who supervises the Executive Director. All support staff are contracted for individual project implementation. the general members elect the Board of Directors and receive annual reports from the Board. The community at which the camp is implemented are members of the society and also provide the venue and indigenous expertise as teachers of the camp.