Study brief Fiji Coral Coast N reduction

Review and Recommendations for Reduction of Nitrogen Export to the Coral Coast of Fiji 1

1. Study brief

This report contributes to an Integrated Catchment Management ICM Program initiated by the Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island and the Institute of Applied Science, University of the South Pacific, Fiji. It is funded by a grant from The David and Lucile Packard Foundation Conservation Program for the Western Pacific. The goals of the overall programme are to: 1. Demonstrate how ICM can be implemented effectively to address Fijis pressing national coastal management issues through the development of an action strategy for the Coral Coast located along the Southwest coast of Viti Levu. 2. Learn from Fijis Coral Coast demonstration site how specific coastal issues can be addressed and develop a constituency at the national and provincial level for the development and adoption of a national policy framework for ICM. 3. Build the capacity required within selected provincial and government entities, districts and at the Institute for Applied Science at the University of the South Pacific IAS-USP through the use of training, mentoring and in- field staff support. As part of development of the Coral Coast Action Strategy, excessive eutrophication of coastal waters and its negative impacts on the health the fringing coral reefs has been identified as a major problem. The sources of excessive eutrophication have been identified as discharges from large-scale hotel facilities, agricultural and waste runoff from streams and rivers as well as groundwater seepage onto reef flats from coastal household septic systems and village piggeries. The current study focuses on nutrient loading to groundwater and subsequent seepage onto reefs emanating from household wastewater discharges within the numerous villages located along the coast. This report summarises our initial observations and recommendations based on a one- week visit to Viti Levu in May 2004 to assess the situation. A major objective of the current study is to develop and test a pilot household wastewater treatment system that reduces nutrient loading into the ground water and onto coral reefs that is technologically, culturally and economically feasible in the Fijian context, and has the potential to be widely adopted in villages along the Coral Coast. In addition, recommendations are also proposed for reduction of nutrient loadings from village Review and Recommendations for Reduction of Nitrogen Export to the Coral Coast of Fiji 2 piggeries, and from small hotels and resorts on the Coral Coast. It is likely that much of this information will also be relevant to other populated and rapidly developing regions of other islands in the Pacific.

2. Introduction