2005 YBBIP Research
In 2005 the team returned to Yaqara Bay between January 19 and February 7 to begin our first series of concentrated collection efforts. Once again, we were joined by Fiji Ministry of Fisheries and Forests Officers in the field. The project was supported (either logistically and/or financially) by Loma Linda University, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the Fiji Ministry of Fisheries and Forests, the Yaqara Pastoral Company, the Yaqara Group Ltd., Fiji Water, the University of the South Pacific, Naia Cruises and Coastal Resources Management.
Collection of animals was divided into two main categories; general collections and ARMS collections. General collections were accomplished by a number of standard techniques including hand collecting, slurp guns, yabbie pumps, dip nets and push cores. These methods were employed on seagrass beds, mudflats, subtidal sand and silt bottoms, rocky shores, around mangrove stands and among coral reefs. ARMS collections were made by processing the structure on the shore.
The team also facilitated several education outreach programs including a Marine Invertebrates training workshop for Fisheries officers, conducted by Leslie Harris (LACM) and Darolyn Striley (LACM) at the University of the South Pacific and the Launch of the Shallow Water Ecological Educational Program (SWEEP), under the direction of Teri Faught.
The field work is due to conclude in January, 2007. However, the work of identification of known species and descriptions of newly discovered species is likely to continue for many years.
YBBIP 2003/2005 report (PDF - 4.42 MB).