{"id":9400,"date":"2018-05-11T11:39:08","date_gmt":"2018-05-11T10:39:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/?p=9400"},"modified":"2018-12-17T11:12:26","modified_gmt":"2018-12-17T11:12:26","slug":"contributing-to-conservation-in-timor-leste-a-day-in-the-life-of-one-volunteer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/contributing-to-conservation-in-timor-leste-a-day-in-the-life-of-one-volunteer\/","title":{"rendered":"Contributing to conservation in Timor-Leste: a day-in-the-life of one volunteer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cockadoodledoo! Woof woof! Toookken!<\/strong><\/em> There is no need for an alarm clock on Ata\u00faro Island where dawn inspires a daily animal chorus. I open one eye, then the other. It is day two in my sixth and final week as a marine conservation volunteer<\/a> with Blue Ventures. I travelled halfway around the world to be here, and my experience has been worth every moment of the journey. <\/span><\/p>\n

Friends and family are asking, \u201cWhat are you doing on a remote island on the other side of the planet!?\u201d You might ask the same, if you are considering becoming a volunteer. The best way to answer is to tell you about today because today was a day to remember\u2014from out-of-the-blue sightings to my favourite Timorese food.<\/span><\/p>\n

The morning workout and frontline news<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n

I awake this morning at Barry\u2019s Place, an ecolodge where volunteers spend part of their stay. My first stop is the \u201cshower\u201d room, where I plunge a bucket into a reservoir and hang it on a ceiling hook. The water, which streams through holes in the bottom of the bucket, is cool, but it feels good because at 6:45 am it\u2019s already 25\u00baC (77\u00baF). <\/span><\/p>\n

Minutes later I am summoned by Blue Ventures\u2019 Dive Manager Laura MacGuire<\/a> to help the team move air tanks from storage to the \u201ckit pit\u201d – the area where we set up and sort our diving gear each morning. The tanks are heavy, but it\u2019s a nice\u00a0workout with a splendid view of Ata\u00faro\u2019s hills, which are now, in the wet season, lush and green.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>
Barry’s Place<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Bucket shower<\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Hammock at Barry’s<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Ata\u00faro Island<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

The sun feels strong already as it falls through the leaves of the beautiful tropical garden at Barry\u2019s Place. Over a cup of tea and breakfast, Laura chats about the island news\u2014local fishermen spotted a large group of dolphins and melon-headed whales yesterday. <\/span><\/p>\n

I think this sounds promising for a chance to spend the morning looking for cetaceans<\/a> (whales and dolphins), but we soon learn we have a different task: surveying two coral reefs.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>
The “kit pit”<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Melon-headed whales<\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Laura McGuire<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

Benthic or not benthic, that is the question<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n

In addition to Laura, our team today includes Sandra, a fellow volunteer, Blue Ventures\u2019 Field Scientist <\/span>Roxane de Waegh<\/span><\/a> and two Dive and Science Assistants <\/span>Jemima Gomes<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Amos Da Costa<\/span><\/a>. Amos and Jemima, who are both residents of Ata\u00faro Island, are working with Laura to complete a professional divemaster certification\u2014a step that is important to them and their community.<\/span><\/p>\n

Earlier in the expedition, Sandra and I completed training on how to conduct a scientific reef survey\u2014from assessing damage due to bleaching, natural events or disease, to counting fish and benthic species, which include corals, sponges and algae. After several weeks of apprenticeship, we truly feel that we are part of the conservation work on Ata\u00faro.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>
Roxane<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Amos<\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Jemima<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Martin and Sandra<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

Before we head out, Laura gives a briefing about Baru Ana, the first dive site, and reviews safety procedures. Roxane follows with an overview of our survey goals.<\/span><\/p>\n

Surveys are conducted in two-person teams, and Roxane is my partner for this dive. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you want to do?\u201d she asks.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI fancy benthic today.\u201d<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, like every day!\u201d she laughs.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid I will lose my mind if there are too many fish.\u201d<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u00a0they\u2019re having a coffee and chilling. You\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got a point. Okay, I\u2019ll do fish!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

We bring our gear to the dive boat, <\/span>Tasi Mos<\/span><\/i>, and captain Antonio helps us aboard. We are lucky today as the view of Manakoko, the island\u2019s highest mountain, is crystal clear. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>
Off we go<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Tasi Mos | Photo: Joe Sharman<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\"Ready

Ready to dive!<\/p><\/div>\n

Once at Baru Ana, Jemima jumps in to check the current\u2014an important step because the site lies near the narrow eastern point of the island, making it susceptible to tricky currents. <\/span><\/p>\n

She surfaces a moment later. \u201cNo problem; just a bit of current.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

We complete a final safety check, and Amos, who will stay on the boat to monitor our dive, asks if everyone is ready. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes!\u201d we reply.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay! Scuba masks on! Regulators in! Go!\u201d he shouts.<\/span><\/p>\n

We roll in unison off the side of the boat. I join Roxane on the surface and then follow her down to the reef floor where we lay a 50-metre measuring tape. This is our transect, the line along which we will survey. Once the tape is secure, we slowly, peacefully swim back to the beginning. Otherwise, we might frighten the fish before we can count them! <\/span><\/p>\n

First, we swim along the tape and record fish and benthic species. Then I conduct an impact assessment, noting whether the corals have been affected by disease or bleaching or weakened by predators. Fortunately, the reef is healthy, and we celebrate that fact as we return to Barry\u2019s Place.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>
Coral outcrop<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Reef survey<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

A surprise in the blue<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n

After a brief rest, we head to Haru Ina, a gorgeous coral reef that was recently designated as a locally managed marine area (LMMA) through a local customary law called \u201c<\/span>tara bandu<\/span><\/i><\/a>,\u201d that restricts fishing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Laura reminds us \u201c<\/span>tara bandu<\/span><\/i> allows the community to develop its own set of rules to manage and improve the sustainability of fishing practices. But this is a sacrifice for them.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Community members fish to feed their families and earn money. As they reduce fishing, alternative income sources like those generated by ecotourism play an important role in supporting conservation. <\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>
Haru Ina<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Acropora coral<\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Feather star<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Surgeon fish<\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Haru Ina<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Soft coral<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

We dive in, successfully complete a survey, and then hover at 5 metres for a safety stop before surfacing. The current gently pushes us over majestic table-like corals. We see plenty of fish\u2014oriental sweet lips, snappers, trevally, and groupers; myriads of fusiliers; schools of trigger and unicorn fish; and a hawksbill turtle dancing nearby\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

That would have been enough to make us happy, but Roxane flipped around to have one last glance into the blue, and a second later, she was screaming with delight. <\/span><\/p>\n

A hammerhead shark!<\/span><\/p>\n

Shark talk, lectures, beach cleans and more\u2026<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n

At lunch, we discuss the screaming, and the shark. Overfishing has severely affected their populations, and this is the first shark we have seen… <\/span><\/p>\n

I fill the break after lunch with logbook writing and Instagramming<\/a>. At 2:00 we reconvene for a lecture about coral gardening. <\/span><\/p>\n

At 3:00 we meet for a weekly beach clean-up. For this, we need bags, gloves, a wheelbarrow, and strong motivation. As everywhere, plastic and other debris can be found on Ata\u00faro\u2019s shores. And plastic doesn\u2019t break down; it only breaks up. Over time, a single plastic bottle can break into over 10,000 pieces of microplastic. We collect and sort the debris and log data for NGO\u00a0<\/span>Tangoroa Blue Foundation<\/span><\/a>. It doesn\u2019t seem like a lot, but if everybody contributes a bit, we can make a difference.<\/span><\/p>\n

In late afternoon, I walk into Beloi Village to say hello to the family that hosted me during our time in <\/span>homestay<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Estevao and Lourdes and their children. Estevao climbs a tree in his garden to cut a fresh coconut for me. What a treat!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>
Beach cleaning<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Sorting through the debris<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
<\/a>
Our homestay family<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
A refreshing coconut<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

After returning to Barry\u2019s Place, I log my reef check data from the morning dives and help clean the pit kit. Our day ends with dinner and a preview of tomorrow\u2019s activities: a cetacean survey<\/a>, a lecture about animal bioluminescence, boat maintenance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perfect. I\u2019m in for all activities. <\/span><\/p>\n

At 7:45 pm the day is ending. Sandra and I share a pineapple while a Japanese guest plays a sweet song for her child with a small Timorese guitar and a Dutch retired couple silently play a game\u2026 a unique atmosphere on a remote paradise island!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>
The dream team!<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
Sunset on Ata\u00faro<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
\n

Blue Ventures would like to thank our supporters and funders including the Darwin Initiative through UK Government funding, the\u00a0GEF through UNEP under the Dugong and Seagrass Project, and Wilstar.<\/i><\/p>\n

\n

All photos in this blog were taken by Martin Cloix (The Blue Martin) unless specified in the caption. If you want to see more from Martin, including French content, check out his Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and Youtube<\/a> channels.<\/p>\n

Want a second opinion? Read a detailed description of a coral identification dive<\/a> from previous volunteer Fiona Westheim.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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