The Lau Seascape has the potential to set the narrative for the Fijian government to test its goals in achieving the National Oceans Policy, which states that by 2030 Fiji would like to have 100 per cent management of its economic exclusive zone and 50 per cent of marine protected area.
This was the sentiments of Conservation International Pacific director Susana Waqainabete-Tuisese, who is overseeing the mapping of the Lau seascape.
She said the Lau seascape which spans approximately 335 square kilometres, accounts for approximately 100,000 square kilometres of the proposed marine protected area. She said as far as the Lau seascape was concerned, it constituted up to 30 per cent of the proposed marine protected area.
Ms Tuisese said given the vast marine area in the Lau Group that was being mapped and protected, it gave the government an opportunity to pilot and test out its goals of achieving the National Oceans Policy.
She said Conservation International hoped that its work in the group would be replicated in other provinces in other country.
“It doesn’t mean that we have to go in and do it, it just means that we are setting up this model and if this model is going to be picked up by other non-government organisations, but other provinces that want to replicate the same thing we’re doing in life, there’ll be a huge success,” she added.
