Working with communities to ensure fish for our children’s children

The Community Development and Advisory Services Section is currently actively engaged with the establishment, implementation and monitoring of Special Management Areas (SMAs) for coastal communities in Tonga. Under the Fisheries Management Act (2002), any coastal community can apply to the Ministry to establish an SMA for the purposes of community-based fisheries management. Given the major concern of local communities for the decline in their inshore fisheries resources, the SMA programme has being introduced as an effective, community-based management tool that could help control fishing activities, impose no-fishing areas (Fish Habitat Reserves (FHRs)) to protect and conserve marine resources, as well as promote the sustainable development of fisheries at the community level. At present, the Minister has officially designated 6 community SMAs. These are in the islands of ‘O’ua, Ha’afeva and Felemea in Ha’apai, Ovaka in Vava’u and ‘Eueiki and ‘Atata in Tongatapu. For more information, please click on the following links:

• Brochures providing maps and information on these 6 SMAs (English and Tongan)
• GPS coordinates for the boundaries of these 6 SMAs

GEF‐SGP Projects

Two Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) projects are currently underway for the SMA communities of ‘Atata and Ovaka. These projects were officially launched in 2011 by the Honorable Minister for MAFFF, Lord Vaea in ‘Atata and the Honorable Acting Prime Minister, Samiu Vaipulu in Ovaka.

Both SMA communities, through their Coastal Community Management Committees, take the leading role in managing and implementing their respective projects, with the close assistance of the Fisheries Division. The projects aim to strengthen ‘Atata and Ovaka’s management capacity of their coastal SMAs and continue to enhance conservation and sustainable use of their coastal marine resources. Specific undertakings include training sessions on marine conservation and management, fisheries compliance and enforcement, good governance as well as technical assistance through the re‐deployment of boundary markers and restocking activities in their Fish Habitat Reserves. Promoting alternative livelihoods is also a significant component of the projects.

Each project was granted a total funding assistance of USD$48,000 to be implemented over the next two years. The projects were made possible through collaborative efforts between the SMA communities, the Fisheries Division and the Civil Society Forum of Tonga. It is anticipated that additional SMA communities, such as Felemea in Ha’apai, will take part in similar GEF‐SGP projects in the very near future.