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Fiji Time: 8:36 PM on Monday 20 May

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Resilient MPAs need adequate habitat representation

Timoci Vula In Cairns, Queensland
Friday, July 13, 2012

THE coastline spanning five districts in Bua on Vanua Levu has a diverse reef type, it has been established.

The districts include Kubulau, Solevu, Wainunu, Nadi and Wailevu.

In a survey of the area, it established that the marine protected areas in those districts were home to about 13 reef types.

These were the findings revealed in a poster prepared by Yashika Nand of the Yashika Wildlife Conservation Society that was among other posters on showcase at the Cairns Convention Centre at the international coral reef meet.

"In this poster, it shows our work in the Kubulau district and other districts in that area and we were looking at the different types of disturbances like pollution and coral bleaching and also identifying resilience," Ms Nand said.

She said there were three district protected areas which were no-take zones and 17 village protected areas.

"A resilient MPA should include the provision of adequate habitat representation and it should also be able to achieve a minimum biodiversity as well as people and their needs," she added.

Ms Nand said for Kubulau and Solevu, it had a diverse reef type, which was needed for reefs to survive in the future.

"A diverse reef system means the system is resilient so I can say the reef system from Solevu to Kubulau is in a good state," she said.