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Why Fiji
Fiji’s remarkable and unique biodiversity, including many endangered species, inhabit an assortment of ecologically, economically and culturally valuable ecosystems including dense and natural forests, coastal wet lands, mangroves, sea grass beds, mud flats, estuaries, lagoons, coral reefs and deep ocean drop offs.
Considering that Fiji’s territorial borders include 1.3 million square km and its islands cover less than 1.5% of the area it is not surprising that over 80% of Fiji’s population live on the coast and rely on marine resources for food and occupation. In addition marine resources are used for construction material, pharmaceuticals and minerals and are the main allure for the economically valuable tourism trade which accounts for 17% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Fiji’s coastal and marine ecosystems are under threat from increasing anthropogenic activities and their associated effects, including climate change and coral bleaching, population growth, unsustainable and/or destructive commercial and recreational fishing practices, tourism trade, increased coastal development, introduced species, agricultural clearing and run off, pollution and poachers that are increasingly making illegal incursions into these waters and are threatening the livelihoods of the traditional resource users.
Coupled with these anthropogenic threats are natural destructive events, such as cyclones and floods, which compound the danger to the environment. The small size and isolated nature of Fiji makes it extremely susceptible to any perceivable threat. Fiji has a significant economic and cultural dependence on the marine environment, it is vital to the future of Fiji that the ecosystems are effectively and sustainably managed.
In 2003 the Fijian Government committed to protecting 30% of its waters by 2020. In 2007 Fiji had recorded more than 200 unofficial sites for marine protection, increasing the number of protected areas by 30% since 1997; a huge step toward the 30% protection of all Fijian waters. The Tui Kubuna is the owner of the Kubuna Waters and is the highest ranking Chief of Fiji; Ratu Epenisa Cakobau is the potential future Tui Kubuna.
After consultation with Ratu Epenisa and local stakeholders of the Kubuna Waters the primary objective of the South Pacific Projects project on Leleuvia Island was proposed; in a partnership with the Department of Fisheries, South Pacific Projects is to collect a comprehensive multi-faceted marine resource data set in the region that will enable the local communities to make more informed decisions regarding the sustainable management of their marine resources leading to the establishment of a network of Fisheries Gazetted Marine Protected Areas.
The purpose of the designated marine protected areas is to preserve the marine environment and the vital resources it contains for the future generations of the communities that inhabit and utilise the Kubuna Waters.
Since the initiation of the project South Pacific Projects has worked in close collaboration with the Department of Fisheries – Research Division and USP to develop effective methodologies to complete the objective. South Pacific Projects has set an extensive and elaborate research plan for the Kubuna Waters to accomplish the objective, beginning with a comprehensive baseline assessment of the region followed by a resource stock inventory together with a series of socio-economic surveys.
South Pacific Projects aims to be a facilitator to the community and project partners, sharing all data gathered so that together the decisions made regarding the development of marine protected areas and future management plans are made by those that it affects the most and with the most knowledge, while also promoting the local stewardship of their marine resources.
You will have a unique opportunity to make a positive and long-term contribution to the conservation and sustainable development of the communities in Bau District (Kubuna Waters), as all field research and conservation projects are carried out by our overseas volunteers working in close collaboration with our field research scientists and camp staff.
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