Key Biodiversity Areas

Vanua Masi Marine (31042)
Fiji, Oceania

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Vanua Masi Marine
Central coordinates: Latitude: -18.0122, Longitude: -178.4487
System: marine
Area of KBA (km2): 1688.88173
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 seaward extension of 23 km around Vanua Masi Islet to encompass the foraging range of IBA threshold numbers of Lesser Frigatebird based upon a 2010 population estimate of 5,058 individuals from Tuamoto, T. and Rasalato, S. (2010) Surveying and Restoring Seabird Colonies on Vanuamasi Island in the Lau Group. Unpublished report to BirdLife International Fiji Programme.

Habitats


IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Neritic100

Threats


Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
PollutionIndustrial & military effluentsOil spillsOngoing
PollutionGarbage & solid wasteOngoing
Climate change & severe weatherHabitat shifting & alterationOnly in the future