Ocean voyagers are coming together with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to help strengthen a special regional campaign promoting Whale and Ocean Conservation, starting next year.
This week the Samoa Voyaging Society and crew of the Gaualofa underwent a half day planning workshop with SPREP, learning more about whales in the Pacific and to pave a way forward to help carry out activities under The Pacific Year of the Whale.
"We have a strong partnership with the Samoa Voyaging Society and the crew of the Gaualofa, this planning activity to help enhance the regional Pacific Whale Campaign is just one example of this," said Mr. Stuart Chape, the Director of the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management Division of SPREP.
"We hope to also work with other Voyaging Societies of our Pacific islands to implement this campaign that we hope will bring about better protection of whales as they voyage through our ocean islands."
The half day planning event saw the crew of the Gaualofa chart a map as to how they can assist with the Pacific Year of the Whale campaign.
Activities ranging from logging data from whale sightings, sharing information about whales when carrying out their outreach to schools and villages of Samoa, as well as producing songs and dramas about whales are some of the ways the Samoa Voyaging society and the crew of the Gaualofa will help achieve the goals of the Pacific Year of the Whale.
"We really enjoyed our session at SPREP, we learnt some really interesting information about whales in the Pacific and look forward to playing a role in helping to conserve and protect these majestic creatures," said Gaualofa Captain Ms. Fealofani Bruun.
"One of our most recent sightings was a pod of six sperm whales while in Savai'i. Having learnt more about whales this morning makes us realise just how special this sighting was. We're really looking forward to next year."