Preliminary report of the live rock assessment in the Vatukarasa collection area, 2nd - 5th May 2005

Vatukarasa lies within the province of Nadroga, Navosa and Tikina (district) of Conua. It is situated along the Coral Coast, which is on the Southwestern side of Viti Levu, the largest island of Fiji. According to the 1996 census, Vatukarasa village had a total population of 275 people with 39 households. Data collected in 2002 by Bureau of Statistics showed that the current population is around 450 people with 74 families. The villagers rely on subsistence farming of crops (cassava, taro, taro leaves, fruit) and livestock (cows, pigs, chicken) as well as fishing (fin-fish, sea urchins, octopus, shellfish) for daily sustenance. Farming is done mainly by men and fishing by both men and women. Men usually spear fish on the reef crest while women and children fish on the reef flat and inner lagoon using their hands and hand-lines.