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 | US Embassador Mr Larry Dinger hands grant over to IMR Director Dr Kenneth MacKay and USP Vice Chancellor Professor Anthony Tarr |
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The United States Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service today awarded a grant of FJD$ 20,000 to the Institute of Marine Resources (IMR) of the University of the South Pacific (USP), Laucala Campus, Suva . The grant is specifically for the Community-based marine turtle conservation project carried out by IMR. United Sates Ambassador, Mr Lary Dinger presented the grant to USP’s and IMR Director, Dr Kenneth MacKay and USP Vice Chancellor Professor Anthony Tarr . Ambassador Dinger noted that the grant coincides with the 2006 Pacific Year of the Sea Turtle. Thus, it is appropriate during this the Pacific Year of the Sea Turtle that the US through the newly enacted US Marine Turtle Conservation Act is able to support USP in conserving these highly endangered species in the Pacific Islands . Professor Anthony Tarr said the grant would be of great assistance in protecting endangered marine life. “This funding will assist us here at USP in working with Governments, NGO’s and communities in three USP countries, Fiji , Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to increase their capacity to conserve the highly endangered marine turtle,” Professor Tarr said. Dr MacKay shared the grant would also assist IMR in working closely with the Fiji Department of Fisheries and WWF Fiji to develop and implement a Marine Turtle Conservation Strategy. He added that this was necessary as green and hawksbill turtle nesting has declined in Fiji . “ Fiji is also an important feeding area for green turtles that nest in Polynesia . While in Fiji where they feed on the rich sea grass beds before returning to nest in Polynesia , these turtles are vulnerable to the subsistence/traditional fishery,” said Dr MacKay. “In Vanuatu and Solomon Islands the project will focus on the conservation of the highly endangered Pacific Leatherback turtle. It is hoped that community conservation in these countries will overturn the scientists’ predictions that this species will be extinct in 20 years,” Dr MacKay said. The event coincided with the launch of the Faculty of Islands and Oceans last night.
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