Waste Management and Pollution Control
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) hosted over 35 students, teachers and sailors from the Sea Education Association (SEA) in the United States at their Vailima campus this week. The students are exploring "Sustainability in Polynesian Island Cultures and Ecosystems" on their voyage throughout the Pacific region. Sailing on the SSV Robert C Seamans a 134-foot brigantine oceanographic research sailing school vessel, the students will visit American Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand, Wallis and Futuna as well as Samoa during their voyage of discovery.
"This educational journey helps students from all different study areas learn about nautical science, ocean science and cultural understanding," said Dr. Ben Harden, Assistant Professor of Oceanography.
Captain Fani of the Gaualofa explains to the students basic concepts behind traditional navigation
"The semester long study course includes six weeks at sea where students become sailors. They assist and learn about navigation and sailing while also learning about the ocean and the countries we visit."
The students were keen to learn about the work of SPREP across the Pacific in the four key areas of waste management and pollution control, climate change, environmental monitoring and governance, and biodiversity and environmental management, which overlaps with what they hope to learn from their journey.
Mr. Kosi Latu, the Deputy Director-General of SPREP outlined the Pacific Oceanscape Framework including the areas of jurisdiction and rights, sustainable development, waste management, eco-tourism, adaptation and ocean acidification. He also discussed the new Ocean Alliance which was formed at last year's Small Island Developing States (SIDS) meeting which recognised that you can't remove climate change from ocean management, and stressed the critical importance of minimising pollution of our oceans.
SEA students, afer some lessons from the Gaualofa crew take their own turns at the helm
The SEA crew and students also spent the weekend sailing and exploring the island with staff of SPREP while exploring themes of Polynesian cultural identity, history, geography, science, and navigation.
"We were really happy to be able to share with them the work being done to address the environmental challenges in the Pacific islands with examples of actions to address these underway in Samoa," said Ms. Kelsey Richardson of SPREP.
"The visit to SPREP wrapped up a weekend of activities that brought together students of the National University of Samoa, the Samoa Voyaging Society, staff of SPREP and the SEA crew to learn more about Samoa – we anticipate this to be the start of a strong partnership."
On Saturday, SEA hosted SPREP, along with students from the National University of Samoa aboard their sailing vessel for a day sail around Apia.
On Sunday, SPREP staff hosted the students on a day of adventure which included a trip across the island to the Papapapaitai and Togitogiga waterfalls, Tafatafa beach to learn about climate change impacts and adaptation measures including issues surrounding beachfront erosion, storm impacts and invasive species; and the Coastal Walk to see some of Samoa's rugged volcanic coastal beauty with whale sightings just offshore.
The crew of the Gaualofa from the Samoa Voyaging Society also welcomed the students aboard their traditional sailing canoa to learn about traditional Polynesian sailing vessels and navigation, and experience some of Samoa's unique maritime and voyaging history.
The crew of the SEA left for Wallis and Futuna on Tuesday, 6 October.
To learn more about the Sea Education Association, please visit: www.sea.edu
To learn more about this specific class on their tour please visit: http://www.sea.edu/voyages/spice_fall2015
"This educational journey helps students from all different study areas learn about nautical science, ocean science and cultural understanding," said Dr. Ben Harden, Assistant Professor of Oceanography.
Captain Fani of the Gaualofa explains to the students basic concepts behind traditional navigationThe students were keen to learn about the work of SPREP across the Pacific in the four key areas of waste management and pollution control, climate change, environmental monitoring and governance, and biodiversity and environmental management, which overlaps with what they hope to learn from their journey.
Mr. Kosi Latu, the Deputy Director-General of SPREP outlined the Pacific Oceanscape Framework including the areas of jurisdiction and rights, sustainable development, waste management, eco-tourism, adaptation and ocean acidification. He also discussed the new Ocean Alliance which was formed at last year's Small Island Developing States (SIDS) meeting which recognised that you can't remove climate change from ocean management, and stressed the critical importance of minimising pollution of our oceans.
SEA students, afer some lessons from the Gaualofa crew take their own turns at the helm"We were really happy to be able to share with them the work being done to address the environmental challenges in the Pacific islands with examples of actions to address these underway in Samoa," said Ms. Kelsey Richardson of SPREP.
"The visit to SPREP wrapped up a weekend of activities that brought together students of the National University of Samoa, the Samoa Voyaging Society, staff of SPREP and the SEA crew to learn more about Samoa – we anticipate this to be the start of a strong partnership."
On Saturday, SEA hosted SPREP, along with students from the National University of Samoa aboard their sailing vessel for a day sail around Apia.
SEA students enjoy the Coastal Walk
On Sunday, SPREP staff hosted the students on a day of adventure which included a trip across the island to the Papapapaitai and Togitogiga waterfalls, Tafatafa beach to learn about climate change impacts and adaptation measures including issues surrounding beachfront erosion, storm impacts and invasive species; and the Coastal Walk to see some of Samoa's rugged volcanic coastal beauty with whale sightings just offshore.
The crew of the Gaualofa from the Samoa Voyaging Society also welcomed the students aboard their traditional sailing canoa to learn about traditional Polynesian sailing vessels and navigation, and experience some of Samoa's unique maritime and voyaging history.
The crew of the SEA left for Wallis and Futuna on Tuesday, 6 October.
To learn more about the Sea Education Association, please visit: www.sea.edu
To learn more about this specific class on their tour please visit: http://www.sea.edu/voyages/spice_fall2015