WCC 2016 Res 089 - Activity Report

Throughout 2017, the Uto ni Yalo Trust organized a total of seven community beach clean ups aimed at:

i. Inspiring coastal communities not to dispose non-biodegradable waste in our waterways
ii. Spotlight national policies on waste management and pollution control
iii. Gathering research that mobilizes businesses to promote sustainable packaging solutions

The community beach clean ups were organized at the following locations:
i. 27 kilometers of the Rewa River
ii. 17 kilometers of the Navua River
iii. Narai Island
iv. Koro Island
v. Kiobo village, Bua Province, Vanua Levu Island
vi. Moala Island, Lau Province
vii. Matuku Island, Lau Province

A total of 2000 kilograms of single use plastic bags, straws, bottles, food packaging, cleaning agent containers, broken glass, tin cans, disposable batteries and baby diapers and fabric. Once collected, the litter was categorized and weighed before being presented to the communities with recommendations on how to improve the existing village disposal system.

The Uto ni Yalo Trust has conducted a series of voyages in their sailing vaka, visiting Narai Island, the Vatu-i-Ra seascape, Moala & Matuku islands in Lau, and conducted a Floating Art Exhibition along the coast of Viti Levu at various tourism establishments to help validate the savings associated with non-motorized sea transport.