Kozou Resource Management Plan

The objective of the Kozou Resource Management Plan is to assist the people of Kozou and the neighboring communities of Olive, Ha'apai, and Nusa Hope to suitably manage their marine resources, particularly stocks of mud crab (kapehe) and various species of shellfish (deo, riki kosiri, riki repi nohara, and ropi). The plan will also help to enhance local fish stocks by providing a safe heaven for mullet (lipa), trevallies (mara), mangrove jack (kakaha), and other mangrove dwelling species.

The resource management regime consists primarily in establishing two Marine Protected Areas as a fishery management tool:

1. A permanent "no-take" zone that prohibit the harvest of all existing resources. The main objective is to preserve stocks of kapehe, deo, riki, and ropi. The taking of fish will also be prohibited in this area. This area is closed in perpetuity and the disturbance of the mangrove habitat is prohibited. This area is designed to provide a safe heaven for currently declining stocks of kapehe and other mangrove dwelling resources. This area is designated as Zone 1 (Kozou Kapehe Conservation "No-take" Zone) in map 1.

2. A temporal Marine Protected Area that remains closed to all harvesting of kapehe, deo, riki kosiri, and riki repi nohara, but is open to the harvest of these resources during particular ceremonial occasions including marriages, church functions, and traditional feasts. This area (Zone 2 in map 1) is open to line fishing but netting is prohibited.

Map 1 (click for larger view)

The two areas are continuous and neighbor the Kozou village. The first site, or Zone 1, extends from Miho Simara to Sanda Zokolo and is to be designated as a permanent "no take" zone. The second site, or Zone 2, extends from Sanda Zokolo to Miho Batu Rua near Koqu Kikopo and is to be designated as a temporal Marine Protected Area with a less restrictive management regime than Zone 1.