Qoliqoli Cokovata

Aerial - the Great Sea Reef from Nadogo, Northern Division.
Aerial - the Great Sea Reef surrounding Kia Island, Northern Division.
Night time shot of a traditional Fijian bure or homes made with thatched roofs and natural material walls.
Ligau Village fishermen out at sea fishing.
Katawaqa Island where turtles nest and are protected.
Mita from Ligau Levu Village expertly handles a freshly caught live aggressive mudcrab from the mangroves.
Soft coral garden, a charming dive site of the Great Sea Reef's marine protected area.
Turtle monitors (Dau Ni Vonu)  were once turtle hunters who are now using their skills to advocate for the protection of this iconic species
Snorkeler swims the coral reefs of the Great Sea Reefs.

Qoliqoli Cokovata

  • Country: 
    Fiji
  • Site number: 
    2331
  • Area: 
    134,900 ha
  • Designation date: 
    16-01-2018
  • Coordinates: 
    16°22'S 179°02'E
Materials presented on this website, particularly maps and territorial information, are as-is and as-available based on available data and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Overview

The Site is part of an extensive barrier reef system known as the Great Sea Reef (GSR) or locally as Cakaulevu. At over 260 kilometres in length, the GSR is the third longest continuous barrier reef system in the world. Identified as one of the five marine priority conservation areas in Fiji, it sustains an exceptional wealth of marine biodiversity and endemic species, and supports the food security and livelihoods of local communities, which collectively retain custodial ownership over the fishing grounds. The Qoliqoli Cokovata is the most biodiverse “heart” of the GSR, and so is globally significant. The Site contains a network of a wide range of coral reef forms, associated seagrass beds and mangroves that support foraging and nesting grounds for globally threatened turtle species including hawksbill, green turtles (which are present in significant numbers), leatherbacks and loggerheads. It also supports at least eight globally threatened or near-threatened finfish species such as giant grouper, humphead wrasse and humphead parrotfish. The extensive seagrass beds together with coastal mangroves and mangrove islands are critical habitats and nursery grounds for the commercially important finfish, molluscs, crustaceans and sea cucumbers that support the national economy as well as the local communities. The major threats to the Site include chemical and waste water run-off from a neighbouring settlement, sugarcane farms and a mill. The custodial owners set up the Qoliqoli Cokovata Management Committee, which represents them in Site management decisions.

Administrative region: 
Northern Division

  • Last publication date: 
    12-02-2018

Downloads

Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS)