A Rapid Biological Assessment of Beqa Lagoon (Marine)

Abstract

Coral reefs are under threat from a wide range of anthropogenic disturbances, including overfishing, habitat degradation and climate change. Beqa lagoon, Fiji, is a coral ecosystem that is currently facing a range of significant threats that will impact the structure and functioning of these coral reef communities. Changes to the catchment, river and lagoon have significantly altered the environment and resilience to further disturbance. Furthermore, decades of land degradation in the Navua Catchment results in excess sediment delivery to the river, which is impacting the coral reefs in the lagoon. Here we assessed fish community structure across inshore and offshore reefs and mangrove forests of Beqa lagoon. We used remote underwater video stations (RUVS) to sample fish communities at 40 sites throughout Beqa lagoon.