The World Conservation Society in Fiji will work with the Fisheries Department to carry out an assessment damage exercise on the marine ecosystem in the North after Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Society director Dr Sangeeta Mangubhai said the exercise would focus on the impact of the cyclone on fisheries in the division.
Dr Mangubhai said the extensive exercise would be carried out in the waters of Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata.
“We will need to activate and include a coalition of non-governmental organisations for this enormous exercise in collecting data,” she said.
“The data collected from the exercise will also enable Government to prioritise how much funding to give communities for the rehabilitation of their fisheries.
“Our report will include the analysis done in the various areas and recommendations to Government.”
Dr Mangubhai said they would begin assessment with communities from this month.
“Later on in May we would begin collecting samples from fisheries and also begin assessing waters that need to be assessed for the exercise,” she said.
Meanwhile, divisional fisheries officer Joji Vakawaletabua said the society had a recent meeting with the department to discuss the exercise.
2014, Fiji Times Limited