Diving in Fiji: The Great Fiji Butterflyfish Count November 2008: Results: South Kadavu, Matava Resort

The Great Fiji Butterflyfish Count November 2008: Results: South Kadavu, Matava Resort

The Great Fiji Butterflyfish Count November 2008

On reefs all across the Fiji Islands, volunteers from schools, universities, conservation organisations, resorts and dive operations took part in 30 minute counts of Butterflyfish, as an indicator of biodiversity and coral health.

See www.Fijibutterflyfishcount.com for full details and results as they come in.

Results: South Kadavu, Matava Resort:

Participants:

Alice and James Calvert from Australia

Alan and Lindsay Coley of the UK

Jone Waitaiti, Matava Dive Guide

Richard Akhtar, Matava Owner

Helen Sykes, Fiji Coral Reef Monitoring Networkand Reef Check coordinator

Count in progress

Triangular Butterfly

Cheveroned Butterfly

Longnosed Butterflies

Teardrop

Threadfin

Across the South Kadavu Dive Sites, 24 of the 27 known Butterflyfish in Fiji were seen. On average 79 Butterflyfish were seen over the 30 minute counting period.

Site	Reef Type	Average # of fish / 30 mins	Average # of species
Eagle Rock, Outer Wall	52 % Hard coral cover 23% Soft coral cover	92.5	20 (74%)
Vesi Bay, Nearshore fringing Reef	38% Hard coral cover 7 % Soft coral cover	85.5	14 (52%)
Naiqoro Passage Deep passage to outer wall	Hard coral gardens	82.8	22 (81%)
Japanese Gardens, Passage side to outer slopes	Rock walls in passage, Hard corals on slopes	46.5	17 (63%)
South Kadavu Overall		78.8	24 (89%)

Many more species were found on the outer wall sites where there was high hard coral cover, and more variety of coral types. At the inner reef and passage side sites, where there was less hard coral, there were fewer species, and in one case, fewer fish, mainly those who do not depend entirely on corals for food.

Diving in Fiji: The Great Fiji Butterflyfish Count November 2008: Results: South Kadavu, Matava Resort