For decades, Community Conservation Officers (CCOs) of Pakin, Nahtik, Sapwitik, Dehpehk/Takaieu, Palikir, and Nanwap have worked tirelessly to monitor illegal activities within their respective Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) without proper equipment.
OneReef equips six partner communities in Pohnpei with basic surveillance kits, including radios, drones, cameras, life vests, and binoculars. This equipment supports our partner communities' monitoring and surveillance efforts in their MPAs.This equipment also provides safety to the CCOs while they are out on the water monitoring and surveilling. In addition, OneReef has donated two boats and two engines to support the Nahtik and Palikir communities’ monitoring and surveillance efforts.
In October 2021, the Pohnpei State Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), in partnership with OneReef, the Conservation Society of Pohnpei (CSP), and two other organizations, led a two-day compliance and surveillance training in Pohnpei. Key CCOs and Police Officers from five municipalities with active Marine Protected Areas attended the training. During the training, CCOs from OneReef partner communities and municipal Police officers familiarized themselves with Pohnpei’s code on its Marine Sanctuary and Wildlife Refuge System. Back in their respective communities, they can train their fellow community officers and enhance communication between surveillance peers. The training is also helping the CCOs better utilize the equipment OneReef has provided them with your donations.
Thanks to your donations,
Thank you for being part of the community-led coral reef conservation movement! Our Community Conservation Officers appreciate your support, and so do we!
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Galvanized by a poacher’s houseboat that they found in 2019, OneReef Partner Community Takaiou in Pohnpei, FSM (Federated States of Micronesia) has been moving swiftly to boost its reef protection capabilities. Inspired by the floating ranger stations of our partner communities of Nimpal (Yap, FSM) and Ant Atoll (Pohnpei, FSM), Takaiou Chief, Pedro Primus, requested OneReef support to acquire their own floating ranger station. This creatively designed ranger station was built by a local company owned by William Hawley, the Rohsa (traditional leader) of OneReef partner community Ant Atoll. The floating station is powered by a boat engine and has overnight facilities for a small ranger team, allowing for multiple-day patrolling. This reduces fuel costs in going back and forth from shore and is a stronger deterrent for poachers especially those that come under the cover of night. Floating Ranger stations have proven to be more effective in the large and remote Marine Protected Areas of our partner communities. The floating ranger station, combined with the basic surveillance equipment purchased with funds you donated, and training provided by OneReef, has set up Takaiou-Dehpek communities for successfully deterring poachers.
We still have not met our goal of raising funds that are needed to buy the rest of the surveillance gear for the four communities in Pohnpei and appreciate your continued support.
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On October 28th, 2021, a two-day compliance and surveillance training of trainers was held in Pohnpei (Federated States of Micronesia). It was led by Pohnpei State Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). DFW, in partnership with OneReef partner, the Conservation Society of Pohnpei (CSP), and two other organizations. It was attended by key Community Conservation Officers (CCO) and Police Officers from five municipalities that have active Marine Protected Areas.
During the training, the CCOs and municipal Police officers had the chance to familiarize themselves with the basics of Pohnpei’s code with regards to Marine Sanctuary and Wildlife Refuge System. The training also
included basic exercises where DFW designed scenarios for CCOs to practice. Simple reporting forms were designed by DFW for all CCOs to follow when reporting incidents. Many of the participating CCOs are from OneReef partner communities. They can now go back to their respective communities and train their fellow community officers and further enhance communication between surveillance peers. This training will also help the CCOs better utilize the equipment OneReef has provided them with donations from people like you. Thank you for your support!
Training initiatives like this help build a stronger surveillance alliance to reduce the growing Illegal, Unreported and
Unregulated (IUU) fishing in Pohnpei’s coastal waters.
In addition to the basic equipment you have helped us provide to our partner communities, we are still raising funds for supplemental equipment that will help the CCOs protect their Marine Protected Area in a safe and effective manner. Thank you for your continued support!
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13 Volunteers: 12 Rangers, 1 community Chief Ranger (Fransisco Sohl). Three teams of 4 are assigned to surveillance and enforcement and alternate for approximately 5 hours each day of the year.
9,127 volunteer hours of surveillance per year: Total volunteer/unpaid hours per year for the 12 Rangers is 7,302 and for the chief ranger is 1,825 per year
Sapwtik/Lehnger
6 Volunteers: 5 Rangers, 1 community Chief Ranger (Talking Chief, Henry Edmond). Two teams of 3 are assigned to surveillance and enforcement and alternate for approximately 5 hours each day of the year.
5,475 volunteer hours of surveillance per year: Total volunteer/unpaid hours per year for the 5 Rangers is 4562.5 and for the chief ranger is 912.5 per year.
Dehpehk-Takaiou
10 Volunteers: 9 Rangers, 1 community Chief Ranger (Chief Pedrus Primo) . Three teams of 3 are assigned to surveillance and enforcement and alternate each day for approximately 5 hours each day.
7301.5 volunteer hours of surveillance per year: Total volunteer/unpaid hours per year for the 5 Rangers is 5476.5 and for the chief ranger is 1,825 per year.
As you can see, an astonishing number of hours are volunteered every year by the Community Conservation Officers. They don't take salaries but we can make their lives easier by providing them with good gear and equipment, food for patrols, and better boats. We are continuing to raise funds for these 4 communities and for the 2 new communities in Pohnpei (Federated States of Micronesia) that signed partnership agreements with OneReef last year.
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Coral reefs face multiple global and local threats. By removing local stressors such as over-fishing and pollution, we give coral reefs a fighting chance. Apprehending poachers and preventing illegal fishing is a key responsibility for Conservation Officers (rangers) in Micronesia. Your donation made it possible for us to equip these heroes!
The traditional chiefs and chief Community Conservation Officers (aka rangers) made these videos to personally thank you for supporting their efforts to protect their coral reefs. Watch their videos here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoZnyJfodzM&t=33s
In October 2020, two new communities in Pohnpei (Federated States of Micronesia) entered into a partnership with OneReef. Now, we are working to provide them with the same surveillance equipment that we sent to our existing 4 partner communities with your help. The Conservation Officers from these two new communities were trained in the use of this equipment when we held the training for the other 4 communities in October, 2020. So they will be ready to hit the ground running once we can raise the funds to send them the equipment.
We are constantly impressed and inspired by the dedication of the Community Conservation Officers in Pohnpei, especially since they do not get paid for their time and effort. They volunteer to do this risky and tiring job of patrolling and surveillance because responsible stewardship of their marine environment is in their DNA and part of their personal and community identity. By equipping and training them, we make them more effective and make their working conditions better and safer. Thank you for supporting them!
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