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Duduli/Rereghana area spatio-temporal refugia Area: 34 Hectares
Images of esablishing MPA:
This area is under the jurisdiction of Baraulu and Bulelavata villages, Kalikoqu District, Roviana Lagoon. Three habitat types extending for several km2 cover this location: grassbeds, shallow inner-lagoon reefs, and bordering mangroves. Two species of sea grasses, Thalassia hemprichi and Enhalus acoroides, are predominant here, and numerous colonies of Halimeda sea algae are also found within the grassbeds. Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtles are commonly found feeding on the grasses and occasionally so are dugongs (Dugong dugon). Fragmented reefs dot the grassbeds at Duduli. Dead and live Porites, Acropora, Millepora, Faviidae, Agariciidae, and Pocillopora coral colonies dot the reef. Organisms such as branchial crowns (Spirobranchus giganteus) and sabellids (Sabellastarte sanctijosephi) inhabit the crevices of Porites coral heads. Numerous reef and pelagic fish species frequent this area. Mangroves, on the other hand, dominate neighboring Rereghana. Mangrove ecosystems are well established in the region and are extremely important as nurseries for juvenile fish, as spawning grounds for numerous species, and as major feeding zones for reef and pelagic species alike. The most prevalent mangrove species found in Roviana and Vonavona are Rhizophora species in the low mangrove forests and Rhizophora mixed with Dolichandrone and Bruguiera species in taller stands (D.O.S 1974). The substrate of adjacent waters is fine silt and clay with colonies of Thalassia and Enhalus sea grasses. Scattered dead and living Porites coral colonies dot these areas. The seasonal "no-take" zone will last through the masa rane season from September to May of each year. The closure will provide relief from human overall exploitation of various species of shell, crustacean, turtles, and fish, particularly mullet and carangids that are often netted here. Furthermore, if approved by local authorities, the collection of cardita clams Beguina semiorbiculata will be banned, as corals are heavily damaged during the collection of this bivalve. Currently, mangrove areas within Rereghana and Duduli are off-limits for the collection of blood cockle (Anadara granosa) and various mud clams (Polymesoda, e.g., Batissa fortis). This closure was established in 1999 as a pilot project combining the temporal closures of shell-beds with a women's sewing project (see Section 4.3.1.). Funding for this initiative will consolidate the Baraulu project and expand to other villages across the Roviana and Vonavona Lagoons. Women in Sasavele, Nusa Banga, and Nusa Hope villages have all showed tremendous interest in the pilot project. In addition, traditional and church leaders have pledged their support. Challenges: Rereghana and Duduli mangrove areas are
already in their second year of seasonal closure during which time
there has been little reported incidence of poaching. However, extending
the closures to cover the shallow reefs and grass beds may be more
complicated. Although people recognize the need to manage this area,
several Baraulu households may resist the extension of the closure
for they often net for mullet and dive for bêche-de-mer and
cardita clams in this area. Through the involvement of traditional
and church authorities, in tandem with the proposed development activities,
members of the community will respect and endorse the resource-management
initiative.
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