Vorovoro Environment
From Tribewanted
The regional and local environment and its relationship with the Fijian and Vorovoro Community
Geography of Fiji
Fiji is a group of volcanic islands in the South Pacific, lying about 4,450 km (2,775 mi) southwest of Honolulu and 1,770 km (1,100 mi) north of New Zealand. Of the 322 islands and 522 smaller islets making up the archipelago, about 106 are permanently inhabited. ([1])
Both Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are mountainous, with peaks up to 1300 m rising abruptly from the shore, and covered with tropical forests. Heavy rains (up to 304 cm or 120 in annually) fall on the windward (southeastern) side, covering these sections of the islands with dense tropical forest. Lowlands on the western portions of each of the main islands are sheltered by the mountains and have a well-marked dry season favorable to crops such as sugarcane. ([2])
Oceanic activity is characterized by predominantly south-easterly swells throughout the year, though during the period between July and December there are significant easterly swells. Tides are generally diurnal. Sea surface temperatures have an annual average of between 24ºC to 31ºC and surface salinity levels are 35o/00 in most cases, except during periods of heavy rainfall. The annual mean tidal range is limited at only 1.1m. The mean range of neap tides is 0.9m and spring tides 1.3m. Strong tidal currents occur 3 hours before and after low and high tides in lagoons, and the amount of water entering lagoons over reefs and through passages are also dependent on tidal heights ([3]).
Fiji Islands Marine Ecoregion
The Fiji Islands Marine Ecoregion (FIME) is comprised of approximately 844 high islands, cays and islets dispersed between latitudes 177-1780W and longitudes 15-230S. With a total land area of 18,500 km2, it lies at the mid-point of the two convergent zones, Tonga Kermadec and New Hebrides, and is separated by the Fiji Basin to the west and the Lau Basin to the east. In addition, Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone occupies a total area of 1.29 million km2.
FIME has one of the most complex and extensive coral reef systems in the western Pacific. It is estimated that there are around one thousand coral reefs in Fiji (Zann, 1992). Reef sizes vary from less than 50 m to 370 km long. The diversity of reef types include patch, fringing, barrier, platform, oceanic, ribbon, drowned, atolls and near-atolls. The most common reef types are fringing reefs and barrier reefs. The reefs of FIME are historically healthy but are currently under threat from environmental stressors such as bleaching, pollution, physical damage from unsustainable fishing practices and unsustainable harvesting for the aquarium trade.
Encompassed within this vibrant ecological framework are over 390 known species of coral housing over 1200 variety of fish and a multitude of invertebrates. The ecoregion is also home to some unique marine life, like an endemic seabird, the Fiji petrel. There are seven known endemic species of fish in the Fijian waters and it's also a spawning ground for the endangered hump head wrasse and the worlds largest parrot fish, the bump head parrot fish. Of the seven species of sea turtle found in the world, five have been observed in Fiji's waters; the green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), and leatherback (Dermochelys criacea) turtle. Green and hawksbill turtles most commonly nest in Fiji, where the sea grass meadows are a critical foraging area for the green turtles. Critically endangered turtles like the leatherbacks also use these waters as feeding and migratory paths. Fiji's EEZ waters are a declared whale sanctuary, an initiative by the local government to protect the 12 species of whales and dolphins sighted in its waters. ([4])
The island of Vorovoro just off the island of Mali, lies to the drier side of Fiji’s second largest island, Vanua Levu. Like the rest of the Fijian groups, Vorovoro has one of the few really satisfactory tropical climates of the world. Its hot season is never too hot to allow travelling during the middle of the day, and its cool season is no warmer than that of a European summer. Vorovoro like other parts of Fiji experience the dry season from April to November with the rest noted for its wet months. Generally, the northern side of Vanua Levu is usually referred to as “Babasiga” (the sunny side). It is therefore expected that it experiences more sunny days than the rest of Fiji with normal highs of 32 degrees and a low in the mid twenties during the cooler months of June to September
The leeward (southern) side of the island is characterized by high ridges, interspersed with cave formations separated by mangrove ecosystems and a secluded beach. This side of Vorovoro faces the Vanua Levu and the estuary leading to the Labasa River which provides an alternative route to Labasa. The island has marked high ridges of rocky formation running along the island like a backbone that is almost continuous. Where there is a break, the valley provides the much needed flat land suitable for crop cultivation, buildings and tribal living! The valley is densely covered with coconut palms and other tropical fruit tees such as papaya and citrus. The valley’s rich loamy soil has served the subsistence needs of the Tui Mali’s family well during the years. Overall the ridge cover is generally that of a talasiga one, consisting of intermittent grass patches and canopy of no more than five meters high. However, there are few large trees but mainly in the ravines.
Local Marine Environment
The sea around the island is well protected with two reef formations fronting it. Cakau Levu (more widely known as the Great Sea Reef), which is a kilometer away, is the world’s third largest continuous reef formation. Around 150 kms (93 miles) in length, coving over 200,000km2, the reef and its waters create one of the world's most biologically diverse marine areas. A wide variety of life, including reef sharks, manta rays, dolphins, turtles and whales, along with untold coral fish and shellfish species, can be found among the soft and hard coral formations. The reef is also an important fishing ground for local communities.
The water that consist Mali’s traditional fishing grounds is noted for its rich harvest of tropical reef fish and deep sea as well. Around Vorovoro, the yearly arrival of the volaca during annual spawning time around December is an eagerly awaited event by local fisherman for its sweet meat. Vorovoro is also a turtle rookery during turtle breeding season of December to April.
The reef is also a haven for diving enthusiasts and coral watchers.
Regional Environment & Climate
The Fiji Islands Marine Ecoregion (FIME) is comprised of approximately 844 high islands, cays and islets dispersed between latitudes 177-1780W and longitudes 15-230S. With a total land area of 18,500 km2, it lies at the mid-point of the two convergent zones, Tonga Kermadec and New Hebrides, and is separated by the Fiji Basin to the west and the Lau Basin to the east. In addition, Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone occupies a total area of 1.29 million km2. Fiji’s islands are largely volcanic, with a few atoll islands in the Lau Group (Vuki et al., 2000).
Oceanic activity is characterized by predominantly south-easterly swells throughout the year, though during the period between July and December there are signifi cant easterly swells. Tides are generally diurnal. Sea surface temperatures have an annual average of between 24ºC to 31ºC and surface salinity levels are 35o/00 in most cases, except during periods of heavy rainfall. The annual mean tidal range is limited at only 1.1m. The mean range of neap tides is 0.9m and spring tides 1.3m. Strong tidal currents occur 3 hours before and after low and high tides in lagoons, and the amount of water entering lagoons over reefs and through passages are also dependent on tidal heights (Vuki et al., 2000).
FIME has one of the most complex and extensive coral reef systems in the western Pacific. It is estimated that there are around one thousand coral reefs in Fiji (Zann, 1992). Reef sizes vary from less than 50 m to 370 km long. The diversity of reef types include patch, fringing, barrier, platform, oceanic, ribbon, drowned, atolls and near-atolls. The most common reef types are fringing reefs and barrier reefs. The reefs of FIME are historically healthy but are currently under threat from environmental stressors such as bleaching, pollution, physical damage from unsustainable fishing practices and unsustainable harvesting for the aquarium trade.
