Key Biodiversity Areas

Gau Marine (31006)
Fiji, Oceania

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1aA1b
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Gau Marine
Central coordinates: Latitude: -18.0093, Longitude: 179.3017
System: marine
Area of KBA (km2): 2589.59238
Protected area coverage (%): 10.67
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Delineation rationale: The site boundary is based upon a precautionary seaward extension of 25 km around Gau Highlands to encompass potential transit areas of IBA threshold numbers of Collared Petrel based upon a 1984 population estimate of 165 individuals.

Habitats


IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Neritic100

Threats


Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Biological resource useFishing & harvesting aquatic resourcesUnintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]Ongoing
PollutionIndustrial & military effluentsOil spillsOngoing
PollutionGarbage & solid wasteOngoing
Climate change & severe weatherHabitat shifting & alterationOnly in the future