Thirty-seven representatives from various civil society organisations departed Suva yesterday on a 14-day awareness and exploration trip of the Lau Group.

The Conservation International Fiji-led expedition is to merge two significant components of work supporting the Lau Seascape Initiative 2018 – 2030.

This includes community consultations and other associated island- scale interventions along with a Marine Rapid Biodiversity Assessment (MRAP)

The Lau Seascape is about 26 per cent of Fiji’s ocean (approximately 335,000 sq. km). It’s protection is vital.

Conservation International senior programme manager, Semisi Meo said the Lau Seascape initiative was an opportunity to showcase Fiji’s leadership and partnership on ocean management.

“The Lau Seascape Initiative continues to accelerate its precedence and impact on the conservation and protection of the ecological systems following through the ridge to reef to ocean development approach in the maritime province of Lau,” he said.

He said this includes the island systems in Lau such as the inshore reefs, the isolated reefs, the archipelagic waters – and the extension to include the offshore region to the adjacent Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

During the trip, specific marine sites would also be surveyed.

The Lau Seascape Partnership consists of a consortium of 10 partners working to support the Lau Seascape Strategy.

It includes the Pacific Blue Foundation, Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area network, Vatuvara Foundation, Coral Reef Alliance, Loving Islands, University of the South Pacific, Lau Provincial Office, Grace Trifam Ministry, Manta Trust and Conservation International.

Mr Meo said the Lau Seascape Initiative (LSI) is one of the local initiatives that was committed by the Fijian Government at the UN Ocean Conference in New York in June 2017 as a Voluntary Commitment under the expansion of large scale Marine Managed Area.

The delegation would be visiting the islands of Kabara, Fulaga, Moce, Oneata, Lakeba, Vanuabalavu and would conclude in the organic island of Cicia.

They departed from Suva’s Princess Wharf yesterday aboard the Blue Lagoon Cruises MV Fiji Princess.

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