Biodiversity Prospecting in the Coral Reefs of Fiji

by University of the South Pacific

Partners:

University of the South Pacific (USP) The Rainforest Alliance SPACHEE

Current Accomplishments

Discussions aimed toward finalizing a bioprospecting contract with Smith Kline Beecham continued and was nearing completion when the company management closed down their natural products research division. An emergency search for a new enterprise partner has located the Strathclyde Institute of Drug Research and the final draft of a bioprospecting agreement is under consideration. Discussions of these proposals with the government of Fiji has facilitated their development of a draft bioprospecting policy as required under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Work in the project communities has involved a number of workshops and meetings using participatory methods to help communities prioritize their development needs and also discuss resource management concerns. This has led to several measures taken to conserve marine resources such as banning the issuance of fishing licenses, a ban on killing turtles and use of gill nets and size limits to catches. Biological and socioeconomic monitoring plans have also been developed.

Successes and Challenges

"OK...So What?"

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