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Research for this study was carried out under a two-year project to support the implementation of Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) at two catchment-to-reef sites on Vanua Levu, Fiji, during which conservation planning approaches were trialled using EBM tools to evaluate options for re-designing marine protected area (MPA) networks. Current approaches in systematic conservation planning have focused on developing tools to maximize conservation benefits while minimizing socio-economic costs to users of a landscape or seascape area. In this study, we present a novel method for calculating the opportunity costs of conservation actions to multiple gear type users arising from fisher displacement due to the establishment of MPAs in Kubulau District, Vanua Levu, Fiji. The method builds upon those applied in land conservation in which the probability of land conversion to alternate functions is used to estimate opportunity costs to multiple stakeholders, which differs from previous approaches by providing information about costs of currently unused areas that may be of potential future benefit. We model opportunity costs of establishing a network of MPAs as a function of food fish abundance, probability of catch as function of gear type and market value of species. Count models (including Poisson, Negative Binomial and two zero-inflated models) were used to predict spatial distribution of abundance for preferred target fish species and validated against underwater visual census (UVC) surveys and biophysical predictor variables (reef type, reef exposure, depth, distance to shore, protection status). Spatial distributions of targeted fish within the three most frequently sighted food fish families (Acanthuridae, Lutjanidae, Scaridae) varied considerably: Lutjanidae had the highest abundance on barrier reefs; Acanthuridae on inshore fringing and patch reefs; and Scaridae on fringing reefs. Modeled opportunity cost, estimated as a function of abundance and probability of catch by gear type, indicated highest cost to fishers would arise from restricting access to the fringing reef between the villages of Navatu and Kiobo and the lowest cost would arise from restricting access to the Cakaunivuaka reef. The opportunity cost layer was added to Marxan models to identify optimum areas for protection to meet fisheries objectives in Kubulau’s traditional fisheries management area with: (a) the current MPA network locked in place; and (b) a clean-slate approach. The opportunity cost method presented here gives an unbiased estimate of opportunity costs to multiple gear types in a marine environment that can be applied to any region using existing species data.

Research for this study was carried out under a two-year project to support the implementation of Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) at two catchment-to-reef sites on Vanua Levu, Fiji, during which period a pilot study was initiated to evaluate whether longlived coral records could be used to detect land-based disturbance to Fijian reefs. Trace element ratios of barium (Ba) to calcium (Ca) were measured at high (~weekly) resolution with laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) in cores collected from inshore and offshore Porites colonies. The Ba/Ca records from the inshore colony collected approximately 5 km south-east of the Yanawai River mouth and 3 km due west of the Nasue marine protected area (MPA) indicate heavy Ba/Ca enrichment between 1996- 1998, which may be related to high levels of sediment delivery to the nearshore while the Mt. Kasi gold mine was operational. Ba/Ca values from the offshore coral collected near the Namena MPA show consistently low baseline values during the same period and over the entire record. Underwater visual census (UVC) surveys of fish biomass, abundance and species richness from 2007 show significantly lower values inside the Nasue MPA than at adjacent sites open to fishing, while the opposite patterns are generally true for the Namena MPA. By synthesizing interdisciplinary data from multiple sources, deductive logic can be used to decipher major drivers of differences in effectiveness of the two district MPAs. Benthic survey data from Nasue closed and open areas showed no significant differences in specific factors which may indicate recent disturbance (e.g. macroalgal cover, rubble) and/or play strong roles in structuring reef fish communities (e.g. live coral cover, presence of fast growing branching corals, reef complexity). Therefore, we conclude that the historical disturbance from the Yanawai River either had minimal effect on benthic communities in Nasue MPA in sites surveyed or they have subsequently recovered and should therefore be able to support healthy reef fish populations if not subject to other types of disturbance. Socioeconomic surveys indicate that Kubulau residents are occasionally witness to infringements of MPA rules and the majority offenders come from outside the district. However, at the same time, Kubulau residents themselves have indicated catch locations within the Nasue (but not Namena) district MPA, suggesting that accidental or deliberate poaching occurs regularly, likely due to lack of awareness of MPA rules and boundaries and inability to see the Nasue MPA from the shore. Recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the MPA are discussed.

Research for this study was carried out under a four-year project to assist communities in Kubulau district and Macuata Province of Vanua Levu to establish networks of marine protected areas within their large, traditional fishing grounds (qoliqoli). From 2005-2009, underwater visual census (UVC) surveys of fish size and abundance and benthic habitat condition were carried out at 5 MPAs in Kubulau (2 small, village-managed (tabu) areas: Yamotu Lase, Nakali; 3 large, district-managed no-take MPAs: Namena, Namuri, Nasue), while 3 large tabu areas were surveyed in Macuata qoliqoli in 2008 (Cakaulevu, Talai-i-Lau, Vatuka). Reef fish species richness was surveyed in Kubulau in 2009 and compared against values observed from the Great Sea Reef in Macuata in 2004.

Climate change poses an unprecedented level of threat to life on the planet. In addition, predictions about the scale and speed of impact are continually being revised upwards, so that what was already a serious situation continues to look even more threatening. The facts are well known. Atmospheric greenhouse gases are creating warmer temperatures, ice melt, sea-level rise and an unpredictable climate, with a range of extremely serious and hard-to-predict consequences. Recent research shows an increasingly bleak picture. During the period of writing this report new information suggests that: we may already be too late to prevent widespread collapse of coral reef systems due to ocean acidification; climate change adaptation will cost US$75-100 billion a year from 2010 onwards for developing countries according to the World Bank; and climate change may move faster than expected with average temperatures rising 4ºC by 2060 compared to pre-industrial levels according to the UK Meteorological Office. But serious as the situation has now become, much can still be done to reduce the problems created by climate change. This report focuses on the role that protected areas can play in mitigating and adapting to climate change; a set of options that hitherto has been under-represented in global response strategies. In the rush for “new” solutions to climate change, we are in danger of neglecting a proven alternative.

An invasive alien species are known to cause significant economic and environmental damage. Islands are much more vulnerable to the invasion of invasive alien species, and have higher rates of extinction. In the islands of the South Pacific, there are several species Polynesian land birds which are threatened with extinction due to invasive alien species and human interference. Without any intervention from humans, it is likely that these birds will suffer extinction in the next few decades. The island of Atiu in the Cook Islands (South Pacific) supports a range of avian fauna. In 2007 the Rimitara lorikeet (Vini kuhlii), also known locally as the ‘Kura’ was introduced to Atiu, to make a reserve population, as there were only approximatley 1000 left on the island of Rimitara, French Polynesia. There is concern for this species on Atiu due to the existence of the common myna (Acridotheres tristis). The myna is an aggressive invasive which is one of the world’s worst 100 invasive species. It was introduced to the Cook Islands by the government, with the intention to control the coconut-stick insect (Graeffea crouani), but is now a pest itself. A myna control programme on Atiu is being coordinated and controlled by Gerald McCormack (Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust), working through George Mateariki, and using funding from various conservation organisations. Poisioning is being carried out by George in order to reduce myna numbers, and a bounty has been set on the birds or for every right foot so that the locals can help as much as possible. This investigation aimed to estimate the total population size on the island to use as a starting count to determine whether the programme is successful or not. Two methods were used which included roost counts to find an estimate of the population, and a transect method using a Distance programme to estimate the number of birds per hectare as well as the level of abundance in various habitat types. The two methods had overlapping results, giving a total estimated range of 3250 to 8460 birds on the island, although it is more likely to be at the higher end of this estimate at around 6000 to7000 birds. Further investigation will need to determine any change in the population size, any changes in habitat composition as well as the impact on the native species, especially the effect on the Kura and its population size.

The mission of NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) is to serve as the trustee for a system of marine protected areas, to conserve, protect and enhance biodiversity. To assist in accomplishing this mission, the ONMS has developed a partnership with NOAA's Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment's Biogeography Branch (CCMA-BB) to conduct biogeographic assessments of marine resources within and adjacent to the marine waters of NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries (Kendall and Monaco, 2003).

Healthy coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse and economically valuable ecosystems on earth, providing hundreds of billions of dollars in food, jobs,

Cal-IPC News is published quarterly by the California Invasive Plant Council. Articles may be reprinted with permission from the editor. Submissions are welcome. Mention of commercial products does not imply endoresement by Cal-IPC. We reserve the right to edit all work.

Action Strategy Reporting: The reporting for the Action Strategy for Nature Conservation in the Pacific Islands Region 2008 – 2012 was discussed and it was decided that reporting will be done under the four objectives of the Action Strategy. The roundtable working groups will be reporting their activities under the relevant objectives annually and a consolidation report at the conference. Working groups are will be approached to decide on which objectives that best link to their work and the following were recommended