Supporting sustainable fisheries management and marine protected area development for food security and biodiversity protection in Fiji

Introduction
With an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 1.29 million km2, the sustainable management and protection of Fiji’s ocean is critical for the wellbeing of its people. The Fiji Government is making significant efforts on the international stage and within individual ministries to advance and solidify marine conservation and management across Fiji’s EEZ. There remains a need for increased transparency and cooperation between government and civil society on the commitments, tools, and pathways to achieve sustainable ocean management in Fiji. This proposal builds on existing work, to avoid duplication of effort or substantial investments of time and resources. The proposed project will focus on four objectives to be implemented over two years by a coalition of Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs): cChange, Conservation International (CI), Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area (FLMMA) network, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

GOAL: To build consultative and transparent decision-making processes that improve sustainable fisheries management and increase marine protected areas for food security and biodiversity protection.
OBJECTIVE 1. Implement new science-based, minimum size limits for key fisheries in Fiji
OBJECTIVE 2. Secure stakeholder-accepted new offshore marine protected areas (MPAs) to support Fiji’s national and global 30 percent protection goal
OBJECTIVE 3. Implement the Lau Seascape Strategy with a focus on improving fisheries and establishing protected areas.