On 13th March 2015 the islands of Vanuatu were struck by Tropical Cyclone Pam, a very large category 5 cyclone. The event was widely reported in the international press. Wind speeds in excess of 320km/hr were recorded in Port Vila, Vanuatu’s capital. 

Several of the outer islands were decimated by the cyclone. Some commercial buildings and many residential homes in Port Vila suffered damage. The country and the international community are currently responding to the humanitarian crisis left in the wake of cyclone Pam.

During cyclones debris from the land is blown and washed into the ocean. In addition to this usual increase in marine debris, in Port Vila Harbour many boats were wrecked during cyclone Pam. Big Blue managers were on the water in the days after the cyclone and counted in excess of 40 boats and yachts that were either, sunk, broken up, beached or known to be lost. The foreshore of Port Vila town was strewn with debris from these boats as well as debris blown from structures on the land.  

The seabed, similar to on land, is covered in wrecked boats, the contents of boats and many other items of debris that ended up in the water as a consequence of TC Pam. 

We were very relived to see that the coral and marine life on our dive sites was largely unaffected by the cyclone. But there is a lot of debris left in the water in Port Vila Harbour itself

With the assistance of Project Aware Big Blue Vanautu has started a project to remove at least some of this debris from the ocean floor along the foreshore of Port Vila

The benefits of this project are:

1. To remove debris that is harmful to marine life. The debris has the potential to smother the coral, entangle or entrap marine creatures or be mistaken for food by turtles and other marine fauna.   
2. Remove materials such as batteries that are toxic to marine life or items that contain toxic materials such as fuel tanks and engines. Not only do these have toxic effects on the marine life but they also have the potential to enter the human food chain via fish and other seafood harvested from the area.
3. Remove debris that is potentially dangerous to boating traffic such as ropes and sails and large floating items.
4. Remove debris that is unsightly and will detract from Port Vila as a tourist attraction.
5. Keep local Ni-Vanuatu divers employed as tourism numbers are reduced during the recovery phase after the cyclone. 

It is a huge task! We are very greatful to Project AWARE for their support without which this project would not be possible. We can only continue as long as our funding allows. If you would like to help, please donate to Project AWARE. We will keep updating this blog with our progress.