Integrated Ecosystem Management Plan for Navua catchment and Beqa lagoon

Abstract

Located in the Central Division of Fiji, the Navua River and Beqa lagoon support high social, ecological and economic values. The river floodplains support subsistence farming and commercial agriculture, and the river and tributaries provide an important transport route to villages that are difficult to reach. The catchment includes the Upper Navua Gorge, which is a designated conservation area due to its high ecological significance and the forests containing traditional foods and medicines. The lagoon has been endorsed as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) through the International Maritime Organization. An abundance of sea life including coral, fish, sharks and turtles resides in the lagoon. Local communities have deep cultural and spiritual connections to the lagoon, and many rely upon it as a traditional fishing ground for subsistence and commercial fishing. The river and lagoon support an extensive tourism industry including river tubing, white water rafting and the Namosi Eco Retreat within the catchment, as well as shark diving, surfing, scuba diving and snorkelling, with resorts located on and around Beqa Island.