Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2012 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collared Petrel Pterodroma brevipes | VU | breeding (1984) | 165 individuals | A1, A4ii |
| Fiji Petrel Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi | CR | breeding (2005) | < 50 individuals | A1 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2012. The most recent assessment (2012) is shown below.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2012 | favourable | high | low |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| yes | habitat | poor | |
| State (condition of the key species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Marine Neritic | good (>90%) | good (>90%) | favourable |
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Pollution | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Climate change and severe weather | likely in long term (beyond 4 years) | whole population/area (>90%) | no deterioration (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | No management planning has taken place | Very little or no conservation action taking place | low |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Mositi Vanuaso-Lamiti-Malawai/Lekanai/Nacavanadi/Naovuka/Vanuaso | Locally Managed Marine Area (VI) | 1 |
| 2002 | Sawaieke district-Vadravadra/Somosomo/Sawaieke/Nukuloa | Locally Managed Marine Area (VI) | 6 |
| 2002 | Navukailagi village/Qarani (Gau Is.)/Vione LMMA | Marine Protected Area - Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) (-) | <1 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 100 |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Gau Marine (Fiji). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/gau-marine-iba-fiji on 15/01/2025.