SPINE .24” 1 1 Ecologically or Biologically Significant Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity 413 rue St-Jacques, Suite 800 Tel +1 514-288-2220 Marine Areas (EBSAs) Montreal, Quebec H2Y 1N9 Fax +1 514-288-6588 Canada [email protected] Special places in the world’s oceans The full report of this workshop is available at www.cbd.int/wsp-ebsa-report For further information on the CBD’s work on ecologically or biologically significant marine areas Western (EBSAs), please see www.cbd.int/ebsa south Pacific Areas described as meeting the EBSA criteria at the CBD Western South Pacific Regional Workshop in Nadi, Fiji, 22 to 25 November 2011 EBSA WSP Cover-F3.indd 1 2014-09-16 2:28 PM Ecologically or Published by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Biologically Significant ISBN: 92-9225-558-4 Copyright © 2014, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Marine Areas (EBSAs) The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of Special places in the world’s oceans its frontiers or boundaries. The views reported in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Secretariat of the Areas described as meeting the EBSA criteria at the Convention on Biological Diversity. CBD Western South Pacific Regional Workshop in Nadi, This publication may be reproduced for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holders, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The Secretariat of the Convention on Fiji, 22 to 25 November 2011 Biological Diversity would appreciate receiving a copy of any publications that use this document as a source. Citation: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2014) Volume 1: Western South Pacific Region Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs). Special places in the world’s oceans. Volume 1: Western South Pacific Region. 104 pages For further information, please contact: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity World Trade Centre 413 St. Jacques Street, Suite 800 Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9 Phone: 1 (514) 288 2220 Fax: 1 (514) 288 6588 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.cbd.int Design: Em Dash Design Cover photo: Orange roughy, a long-lived, deep-sea fish of the western South Pacific. Photo courtesy of The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), New Zealand Contents Photos courtesy of Mike McCaffrey Acknowledgements ........................................................................................4 12. Suwarrow National Park .................................................................. 54 Foreword ..........................................................................................................5 13. South of Tuvalu/Wallis and Futuna/North of Fiji Plateau ............ 58 EBSAs: An Introduction..................................................................................7 14. Vatu-i-Ra/Lomaiviti ........................................................................... 60 The Western South Pacific Region ............................................................ 12 15. South Tasman Sea ............................................................................ 64 16. Equatorial High-Productivity Zone ................................................. 66 Areas described as meeting the EBSA criteria 17. Central Louisville Seamount Chain ................................................ 68 1. Phoenix Islands .................................................................................. 14 18. Western South Pacific High Aragonite Saturation State Zone .... 72 2. Ua Puakaoa Seamounts ................................................................... 18 19. Clipperton Fracture Zone Petrel Foraging Area ............................. 76 3. Seamounts of West Norfolk Ridge ................................................. 20 20. Northern Lord Howe Ridge Petrel Foraging Area .......................... 78 4. Remetau Group: South-west Caroline Islands 21. Northern New Zealand/South Fiji Basin ....................................... 80 and Northern New Guinea .............................................................. 24 22. Taveuni and Ringgold Islands.......................................................... 83 5. Kadavu and the Southern Lau Region ........................................... 26 23. Manihiki Plateau ................................................................................ 85 6. Kermadec-Tonga-Louisville Junction .............................................. 30 24. Niue Island and Beveridge Reef ...................................................... 89 7. Monowai Seamount ......................................................................... 34 25. Palau Southwest ................................................................................ 92 8. New Britain Trench Region .............................................................. 38 26. Tongan Archipelago .......................................................................... 94 9. New Hebrides Trench Region ........................................................... 42 10. Rarotonga Outer Reef Slopes ......................................................... 46 Notes ............................................................................................................. 98 11. Samoan Archipelago ........................................................................ 50 2 3 Acknowledgements Foreword he Secretariat acknowledges, with thanks, the workshop participants from the ctivities related to ecologically or biologically significant marine areas following countries and organizations, who contributed their time and scientific (or EBSAs) have been an important part of the CBD’s programme T knowledge to the description of the areas meeting the EBSA criteria presented A of work on marine and coastal biodiversity since 2008. This work in this booklet: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, France/New Caledonia, Kiribati, Federated has significantly contributed to global, regional and national efforts to States of Micronesia, New Zealand, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, expand scientific knowledge on marine biodiversity and improve conser- United States of America/American Samoa, International Seabed Authority (ISA), Ocean vation and sustainable use in support of the achievement of the Aichi Biogeographic Information System (OBIS)/IOC–UNESCO, IUCN Regional Office for Biodiversity Targets in marine and coastal areas. Oceania, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), University of the South Pacific (USP), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Permanent The CBD’s work on EBSAs began with the development of the EBSA criteria, Commission for the South Pacific (CPPS), Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative (GOBI), which were adopted in 2008 at the ninth meeting of the Conference of BirdLife International, Conservation International Pacific Islands Program, and Wildlife the Parties (COP) to the CBD. At this meeting, the COP urged Parties, and Conservation Society. invited other Governments and relevant organizations to apply, as appro- The Secretariat thanks the Government of Japan for providing financial support for priate, the EBSA criteria to identify ecologically or biologically significant convening the workshop, through the Japan Biodiversity Fund, and the Secretariat marine areas, with a view to assist the relevant processes within the of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) for its collaboration on the United Nations General Assembly and further enhance conservation and organization of the workshop. The Secretariat also thanks the Government of Australia management measures, in accordance with international law, including for providing scientific and technical support, through the Commonwealth Scientific the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). The Secretariat wishes to express its profound appreciation to the team from CSIRO for At its tenth meeting, in 2010, COP requested the CBD Secretariat to convene their outstanding scientific and technical support before, during and after the workshop. a series of regional workshops to facilitate the description of EBSAs. Since then, the CBD Secretariat has embarked on a remarkable collaborative The Secretariat thanks the Government of Germany for its kind financial support, which effort, working with many global, regional and national partners around has made this publication possible. the world, to describe areas meeting the CBD’s scientific criteria for EBSAs The Secretariat acknowledges with appreciation the author, Kieran Mulvaney, as well (decision XI/20, annex 1) through a series of regional EBSA workshops as the staff of the Secretariat who coordinated and supported the production of this that started in the Western South Pacific region in November 2011. booklet, in particular Jacqueline Grekin, who edited the draft document along with Joseph Appiott and compiled the images from various contributors. The regional EBSA workshop process has facilitated the sharing of scien- Grateful thanks are due to those who kindly allowed us to use their photographs in tific information and the networking of experts