TRAINING BEGINS IN TONGA

[clarionreef]

Hi folks,
A joint Tongan-Filipino training is now underway in Tonga.
We are witnessed by RDO's very own moderator, Righty. :?
We are being chronicled by a photographer he brought along. :lol:
We are monitored by Tongan fisheries and an Australian Aid fisheries consultant. 8O
We are training both Tongan and Filipinos together

We are off to a Breakfast buffet now :lol: as its Sunday here and we're not allowed to "work" in Tonga on Sunday.

PS.We will have much to report on soon.

 

[dizzy]

What are you training them to do? Jump through hoops. :wink:

 

[coralfarmin]

hey,cortez

now this, is some great news to hear,keep up the good work,and I hope all gos as planned for you guys :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a whole gaggle of geese are flocking to yah Steve

Can't wait to see/hear/read all acounts Looking forward to all of you returning

 

[clarionreef]

Flash!
Break thru in not breaking coral!
Our new Tongan/Filipino team just collected 170 flame hawks today without breaking coral!
A Tonga first! Coral has been systematically broken in Tonga on purpose for 15 years by all the shippers to get em...and we just set in motion a new routine.
This smashing of flame hawk niche coral especially...[ pocillaporas ] has put a ring of destruction around the island of Tongatapu and severely compromised their numbers there.
"Buy a flame hawk, kill a 20 year old coral has long been the reality"and needs to end.
The divers are coming along nicely and setting an amazing pace of cleaner fish production. They get it...and over red wine last nite, vowed to sustain it.
[ I hope they remember it this morning ]
All the ideal recipe for reform is here...the netting variey...the fisheries support and subsidy of the marketplace. [Best of all, no ones frittering away funds for the training and all the budget went where it was supposed to go!]

AND.....ITS ON VIDEO.
Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Great news

Can't wait to see the video.

BTW, are you back yet?

 

[Anonymous]

Way to go, Steve! Good news is rare and far between in the industry forum and seems very nice. Tell righty to make some short mpeg's for the RDO library, okay?

-Lee

 

[clarionreef]

Lee, Thanks,
Righty took many meters of film on all aspects of the training and collecting.
From net making to decompression....handling and packing.
The interviews with the divers should also prove most interesting.
He'll be back in a week.
Steve

 

[coralfarmin]

When can I buy a DVD ?

 

[clarionreef]

Well,
There are groups that cannot get this kind of 'connection' and return with fisherfolk after years and millions of dollars spent.
What should we sell it for?
How bout ....
Free at MACNA, MO, IMAC presentations etc....
12 bucks to hobbyists...
and 500 grand to MAC....[ could've saved em so much more if they'd only listen and learn ].
Steve

 

[coralfarmin]

:lol:
sounds fair enough

 

[Anonymous]

$12? Where do I send my check? I've been dying to see these alleged "proper nettings" in action.

 

[clarionreef]

Every day routine occurance in Hawaii, Australia, Vanuatu, Tonga, Belize, Christmas Island, Cook Islands...etc.
But... collectors from all these places are rarely posting here...or anywhere.
It would appear that collectors are seldom computer people, not very chatty and spend more time on their gear then trying to convince far removed people of anything.
If you are ever in the loop, however, with commercial collectors as Rich now is...the information flow can be endless.
Steve

 

[middletonmark]

Glad that you're working in Tonga.

Enjoy the great people, the reefs, and keep up the fight