Friday, September 11th, 2009
Cleo & Alison did 1 Reef Check. Chris was working with immigration to extend our visas. We received a receipt for our application but nothing in the passports. We were assured that it was all legal and that we would not compromise any future visa applications or get in trouble with other officials.
Thursday, September 10th, 2009
Chris went to town again to work on more OceansWatch emails and to meet with John Aini. Chris was encouraged to learn from their discussions that OceansWatch is working with communities in ways that met John's expectations. It's good to receive positive reinforcement from a local guy with his credentials. They also talked about potential "micro" aquaculture in MPA waters. Specifically for Fisheries to start breeding programs for species such as Trochus, BDM, bath sponges or green snail which would be seeded into an MPA site and left undisturbed to breed for a couple of years before a controlled harvest. Chris also discussed this idea with Paul Southgate, professor of Aquaculture at James Cook University and Hugh Walton.
Cleo and Alison did a legendary four Reef Checks around Nago island with our friend Keithson. We are training Keithson to assist John Aini in the future. He will be with us for the rest of our time in New Ireland learning as much as he can from us about reef ecology, diving and Reef Check.
Gardner tried to fix John's computer. He had a virus that jumped to our usb drive.
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
Gardner went ashore to get water and work at John Aini's office where he diagnosed a dead motherboard and fixed various computer issues. Alison and Cleo did one Reef Check survey. Chris had a meeting with Hugh Walton, Director of the Institute of Sustainable Marine Resources, and also our contact in Kavieng so it is fortuitous that he has been appointed to the position. They started scoping an MOU and OceansWatch plans for this year in the Kavieng area. What we'd like to do in the future is offer an Internship for a student from the University of Natural Resources to work with us in the district.
Met Keithson, who is studying fisheries resource management and is a reef owner from Mousau in the St Mathias islands. Keithson has graciously been organizing our visit to St Mathias so that the community expects us when we arrive and we can hit the ground, or water, running.
Chris started talking to a woman at the bank who turned out to be Rachel James' Mother, Garyanne. Rachel is a Kavieng woman who is just about to finish her Masters in marine biology in Germany. Chris and Rachel have been talking for a couple of years now about the marine environment in New Ireland and will, no doubt work together in the future.
Cleo and Alison did repeat Reef Check surveys near Kavieng.
The oil filter on our diesel inboard is still stuck on, much to Chris and Gardner's annoyance!
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Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Arrived Kavieng - Anchored in "The Pond" outside Nusa Resort.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Rough Weather-Put up the storm jib for the first time this trip!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Underway again! It's good to be back on the ocean
Fishing attempt successful!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Cleo bought some local masks and I sent the video camera for warranty service.
Chris and I attempted to change the oil filter on the new diesel. It is the oil filter that came with the motor and has been put on far too tight and has been painted to the motor. After a broken filter spanner, several dents in the filter and Gardner breaking the oil pressure sender it was determined that the best course of action is to leave it on until we get to a place where we can afford to be immobilized for a few days in the event that it all goes pear shaped.
Gardner's macbook took a wave of salt water. ugh.
Friday, September 4, 2009
It took Gardner all afternoon to print a report and visit DHL to not even send the Sanyo video camera in for warranty repair. Patience is a virtue here in PNG.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Chris finished the Karkar MPA report.
Cleo & Alison went for a dive in Madang.
Chris and Gardner went to talk to the police regarding Danny's demand for anchorage fees. All was resolved and Danny was sent back to Karkar with his tail between his legs!
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09/18/2009, Karkar & Madang
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009
Danny, a maverick "Reef owner" (a title not acknowledged by others in his community) came by to deliver an invoice for anchorage fees totaling 6,800 Kina or $2,800USD.
Monday, August 31st, 2009
Divine Mince Burger from Madang Club.
Email, Boat Jobs, Finish Reports. Lovely Internet!
Sunday, August 30th, 2009
Left Karkar 13:30 Arrived Madang at 22:00
Saturday, August 29th, 2009
Cleo & Alison - Went on a walkabout up towards Mom.
Gardner & Chris - Installed and configured new USB to Serial Port Adapter for sat phone. First email attempt completed without errors!
All - 4pm Farewell Singsing at Marangis
Gardner & Chris - Clean Hull of Boat
Friday, August 28th, 2009
Alison feeling better and walking around.
Chris - Met with Kombi et al in the morning had an ecotourism meeting in the afternoon, then met with Ronald, Simon and Michael Vaughan re Coconut Oil early evening.
Chris, Cleo & Alison - Attended Farewell Singsing put on for departing Stanford Teachers.
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Thursday, August 27th, 2009
Alison was sick with a fever and Gardner had to prick her finger for the malaria test. The malaria test came up negative and the unofficial diagnosis is "sinus infection".
Chris - met with Paul Goodyear, a plantation owner whose plantation adjoins a proposed MPA. Paul was very supportive and promised to help.
Chris - met with MPA area 3 traditional reef owners at the Marangis Hausman (Culture House).
Chris - PM Visit MPA area 3 to confirm landmarks and revise map.
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
Gardner bought food at the Goodyear plantation store and then went to take pictures of students that are eligible for OceansWatch scholarships and pen pal partners at Mater Primary School. Chris went to visit the canoe builders. Cleo and Alison surveyed proposed MPA 3 and worked on reports covering the areas from Mater to Marangis.
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
Chris fixed the outboard motor for the dinghy. It wasn't cycling salt water through the cooling system. Yamahas aren't designed to be serviced in the field. He then met with Danny on the beach and was shown the proposed resource center. Chris then met with key people to reorganize the MPA committee to maximize it's effectiveness in relation to community acceptance of our MPA proposal.
Cleo and Alison did two Reef Checks for proposed MPA 1.
Monday, August 24th, 2009
Cleo cleaned the bottom of the boat and explained Reef Check to some local guys with Alison in the afternoon. Alison went to the community meeting and the cultural house to discuss reef ecology and sustainable coral harvest for lime production.
Sunday, August 23rd, 2009
Alison canoed ashore early in the morning and went to church. Chris met with Bill's family regarding ecotourism. Lena came to polish the boat at 11am.
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09/10/2009, PNG
Friday, August 21, 2009
Chris went to meet Anton to discuss the boundaries of proposed MPA #1. Alison and Cleo went underwater again. I am catching up on the blog for the last week! I have to start doing it every night. Cleo and Alison are finishing up some Reef Check work in anticipation of tomorrow being a day off for a ride around the island in a pmv. Our cockpit speakers were stolen today. Chris is very upset after putting so much effort into helping the community.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Alison went to Mater school to give an educational talk about reef ecology. Chris made an introductory speech while Cleo and I provided moral support to the both of them. I kayaked over to Marangis to help Michael get a virus off his USB storage. Our USB stick was infected by Madang Info Tech as well. Grrrr!
There were local guys making a huge canoe on the beach near the cultural house and there were many old men drumming and singing, keeping the tradition alive.
Chris met with the Fisheries Management Committee once again with Cleo, Alison, Kombi, Anton, Alfred, Danny, etc... and the reef owners were happy with the progress made towards establishing an MPA (or 3).
Alison and Cleo were the lone sufferers that made it to the end of a cheesy American movie after dinner.
Wednesday August 19, 2009
Bill from Mater stopped by the boat at 8am to let us know about a sing sing that the kids from Mater school would be performing in and that the bishop would be attending. I went up to the school but the teachers told me that it was postponed until later that afternoon or tomorrow. I was hailed from shore an hour later and in a hilux on the way to Lang Lang school. There were guys in full traditional garb and many people from the surrounding villages. I met the headmaster, Francis, and board member Paul from the Lang Lang school and exchanged contact information with them. They are keen to develop a relationship with OceansWatch.
Chris went to health center to deliver about 100 pairs of glasses that were donated by OceansWatch member Chris Larn. Chris met with Alfred Kobo who agreed to screen members of the community before giving out glasses.
Anton & Danny came to the boat at dusk. Talked about coconut oil.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Site survey snorkeling Cleo driving dinghy and Alison had her head in the water. (really comical) Some sandals went missing.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Chris went to visit the health center to establish contact.
Meeting at Michael's re water project - Chris and Gardner
Bill wants to build a guest house on the beach and invite eco-tourists to stay.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
No rest for the wicked. Carey and I went back to the same points with two different GPS units in an attempt to get more accurate numbers. It was determined that GPS altitude readings are not accurate enough to be applied to this project. A contingent route is finalized and will be confirmed by a surveyor from Madang before construction commences. Alison went to church and then worked with Chris and Cleo
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Alison and Cleo continued their efforts to repeat last years Reef Check surveys while I headed up to Mom with Carey, the water engineer, for another day of pipeline work. I had fun following the gang of locals through the jungle with no shoes on as they cut a swath where the future pipeline will be as Carey marked trees and rocks with spray paint. Chris met with members of the community to rekindle OceansWatch relationships from the inaugural trip last year and his personal trip the year before that.
Friday, August 14, 2009
First Day in Jungle. We met with Carey, Michael, and the local builder named Bill before walking 40 minutes up to the village of Mom to meet with more people. We started to take GPS readings of the area and look at the water sources that will be piped down to Mom. Chris left with Micheal around 1pm to go to the initial meeting with the fisheries management committee. Chris said that the meeting went very well. The committee is aware of diminishing returns from the fishery and is keen to take action with OceansWatch guidance. Cleo and Alison went out to repeat Reef Check surveys from last year and snorkel the area to gain a better understanding of where to focus their new efforts. Some kids borrowed my t-shirts and sleeping bag while Cleo was alone on the boat and working on her computer below. The items were returned later that day. We never did find a pair of red sun glasses.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Carey Arrived in Madang and Michael went to meet him at the airport. Michael and Cheyenne accompanied us on the passage to Karkar where we anchored in between Marangis and Mater. Fishing attempt unsuccessful but sunset was incredible.
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08/12/2009, Madang
10th Augu st
I went to the University of the Divine Word to use the internet. It was too expensive so Instead I went to the hotel to use the internet for the first time in two weeks. Chris ordered new fuel and oil filters from NZ and Cleo did two loads of
laundry using the MACHINE at Madang Club! Clean sheets! Alison did
some mysterious science writing most of the day. I have decided to get
my RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate to better position myself to
get more experience and log as many miles as possible over the next few
years.
9th August
Tried to change the oil filters in the 40 degree heat but we had been given the wrong parts in NZ. Alison spent the afternoon
swimming. Chris shouted another mackerel dinner in lieu of cooking
that night as he had enough of working on the boat in 40c.
Cleo caught up on some scientific paper she has to write.
I need to catch up on organizing photos.
8th August
Picture is of a typical day on the Bismark Sea
We showed off by sailing right into the harbour as the wind was perfect.
Local identity and friend of Chris, Tony Burns had passed away so instead of staying at his boatyard we stayed at Madang Club as it has a pontoon now.
Ate delicious Spanish mackerel and played billiards.
7th August
Back on the Bismark Sea. Things are quiet. I made pizza and finally
figured out how to minimize the mess for the person that has to do the
dishes.
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08/12/2009, Garove
6th August
Cleo and Alison went snorkelling with Terrence early in the morning to get an idea about the reef system at Garove. They reported very patchy coral and thought it was because the volcano is still active, causing many areas of water too hot for coral growth.
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