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The people in the canoes are responsible for measuring 40 m along the line of the channel between pot sites, checking that the pots have been set correctlv (i.e. flat J on the bed, and checking that the rope from the buoy to the pot is long enough to ensure tiat the buoy will float freely at high tide. For measuring the 40 m between pot sites, a canoe paddles ahead with the tape measure while the dinghy, or other canoe, acts as an anchor at the previous pot position and feeds out the tape.

Cyclone Dani and cyclone Ella battered the northern island of Espiritu Santo early in 1999. Both cyclones were reported to have resulted in heavy rain and wind damage to the Vatthe Conservation Area. Charles Vatu, Conservation Area Support Officer estimated that about 20% of the rainforest trees in the CA were wind thrown and another 70% branchless. Damage to the ecotourism infrastructure, bungalows and trails and houses in both Sara and Matantas Villages were also reported.