Much of WWF’s work in the South Pacific is focussed on protecting the Great Sea Reef, an area of globally significant biodiversity. The Great Sea Reef, locally known as Cakaulevu is the world’s third longest continuous barrier reef system or the third longest reef in the southern hemisphere. The GSR runs for over 200km from the north eastern tip of Udu point in Vanua Levu to Bua at the north west edge of Vanua Levu, across the Vatuira passage, veering off along the way to hug the coastline of Ra and Ba provinces and into the Yasawas. As it snakes its way across the western sections of the country’s sea, the reef system takes on different local names but is part of one barrier reef system.
The reef supports a spectacular diversity of fish and coral species representing 74% of coral species and a predicted 80% of reef fishes found in Fiji. A number of threatened species reside in the reef including the green turtle, spinner dolphin, bumphead parrotfish, and the manta ray.
