Rarotonga tourism operators Kura Happ and Jacopo Dozzo have raised concerns about ongoing developments at Avaavaroa Passage following recent safety improvements in the area.

The couple contacted Cook Islands News following another rescue at the Avaavaroa Passage late last week.

The rescue came just days after new warning signs had been placed in danger spots around the island including Avaavaroa Passage.

Authorities continue sounding warnings and have become frustrated as those warning signs are still being ignored.

President of Water Safety and Surf Lifesaving Cook Islands Brent Fisher has recently installed new signage.      

It follows mounting concerns about the growing number of marine tourism operators on Rarotonga and overcrowding in the Avaavaroa passage.  

“We too are concerned about tourism development at Avaavaroa Passage and especially consequences to the ecosystem of the passage, lagoon and reef,” the pair said in a statement. 

Ariimoana Walkabouts founder and director Kura Happ was born and raised in Vaiamaanga Village, and her grandparents have been taking her on the reef since she was small child, passing on the traditional knowledge about fishing practices, sustainable harvesting and “instigating a deep curiosity for the reef and all its creatures, turning her passion into her lifestyle and livelihood”.

“We love nothing more than sharing this blessing with our visitors and locals and one day, will pass this on to our children as Kura’s grandfather and our ancestors have practised.

“Throughout the years we have sought the knowledge of marine experts and environmental advocates and academics to ensure our practice does not harm the reef and its in habitants.

“Kura’s traditional knowledge and sustainable practises generated has led to a collaboration with National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions, opening up a wider field of academics and scientists who are keen to share and provide their expertise to strengthen our business operations while maintaining our core beliefs in sustainable practices and environmental conservation.”  

The pair said the pathway they walk during their Reef Explorer tour is the same that their ancestor walked going back many generations to collect seafood and access the outer reef for traditional fishing.

“The pathway, which gets almost completely exposed during low tides, is predominantly made of ‘coral rubble” alternated by sandy patches and/or algae patches.

“Coral rubble is dead coral fragments, or debris, produced when a reef is physically damaged by events such as cyclones, storms, mass bleaching or ship groundings.

“Studies undertaken on other reef ecosystems shows that corals really don’t like trying to grow on rubble and therefore we take this barren path while exploring this exposed part of the reef – off course there are exceptions.”

The pair said they often see brain corals, encrusting corals and maze corals which always stick out of the surroundings, “making it easier to walk around them, preventing damage”.

“The great majority of live corals are found on the passage walls, in proximity of the breakers or on the outer reef, an area we do not venture to.

“We operate our tours only when low tide conditions are optimal, and on average this happens once or twice a month due to moon calendar, swells and winds, and we only take a maximum of six guests on each tour.”

The pair said they have been operating tours for close to four years, with the goal to educate guests on the importance of all the creatures that populate the “fragile ecosystem, teaching them the role they play in maintaining its balance with the hope of creating more environmental awareness and respect’.  

“For many years before that, Kura had been taking family, friends and visitors alike exploring the reef at low tide, proudly sharing her knowledge and passion for her favourite ecosystem.”

The pair said unsustainable harvesting practices can produce more damage to the reef ecosystem than reef explorations.

“For example, in 2021 Avaavaroa reef population of ‘collectors Sea urchin – Avake’ was completely raided by large family groups in the span of three days. Sea Urchin graze on invasive and poisonous algae that naturally grow on reefs and rubbles area.

“Now, two-years on, from the Avake raiding, we are starting to see the next cycle with baby Avake coming back to the reef, and in this span of time the number of invasive obnoxious algae is grown exponentially, covering corals and preventing their growth and taking over other algae that are at the base of the food chain for many other sea creatures.

“Most sunscreen lotions are also one of the enemies of coral reefs. It is quite common to see visitors completely covering themselves with these before adventuring in the water, while during our walk we do not swim.  

“We do not recommend self-exploring of the reef for safety and for the wellbeing of the ecosystem, it is always better to adventure with a local expert who can point where to walk, what not to touch and what is the best time to get back to shore safely before the retrieving tide.”