The Fiji Occasions » Surf, science, and sustainable tourism

Two of essentially the most vital subjects for Fiji as we speak, tourism and environmental safety have momentarily merged to convey hope due to the go to of a crew of marine scientists from the multiscale environmental graphical evaluation (MEGA) lab in Hilo, Hawai’i.

MEGA lab goals to develop progressive applied sciences and supply them to communities like ours that want them essentially the most.

This merging of surf tourism and science tourism has a fantastic many advantages for the way forward for our marine ecosystem and for sustainable, environmentally pleasant visits to Fiji.

Scientists, researchers, surfers; the crew of 5 visited our waters in July this 12 months to 3D map Cloudbreak Reef, Tavarua and revel in our waves within the course of.

Assistant professor in Marine Science and Information Science on the College of Hawai’i, Dr John HR Burns mentioned “Understanding the construction of a reef is vital to predicting the way it will reply to environmental stressors.

By mapping how the coral group modifications alongside the reef we find out how the dwelling coral and waves affect each reef well being and wave traits. This data is highly effective, and permits us to foretell how the system could change within the face of worldwide stressors akin to sea degree rise.”

The mission was led by Dr Cliff Kapono, accompanied by Dr Haunani Kane because the distant sensing professional, and two graduate college students Kailey Pascoe and Maluhia Kinimaka who led the mapping course of underwater utilizing specialised cameras and underwater robots, alongside Dr Burns who assisted with the underwater information assortment.

The crew mapped the reef from the air and throughout the water to see the reef system in true element to be able to “measure patterns in coral communities and decide how the dwelling reef is structurally oriented.”

Dr Burns mentioned learning and browsing the waves made this a really rewarding and particular journey for the crew.

Having as soon as been a part of the Fiji Surf Affiliation, he was glad to be again as knowledgeable scientist and use their expertise to advertise reef sustainability.

The crew is grateful to REEF Footwear and Surfline for supporting the mission and sharing their aim of giving again to the locations they care about to ensure reefs can keep wholesome for future generations.

Dr Burns added “The waves in Fiji are actually excellent and particular, so we had simply as a lot enjoyable browsing them as we did learning them. It is very important have a stable understanding of wave mechanics as properly as a result of it helps to ensure we will safely and successfully map the vital elements of the wave that make so many surfers journey to Fiji.

“I hope surfers coming right here recognise they’re guests and provides respect to the locations and the individuals of Fiji. There are very significant connections among the many communities and reefs of Fiji, and guests will hopefully respect that and do their half to assist these locations and have a optimistic affect.”