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ISRA FACTSHEETS

NEW ZEALAND & PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION

ISRA FACTSHEETS

NEW ZEALAND & PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION

Dakui Point ISRA

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Dakui Point ISRA

Dakui Point

Summary

Dakui Point is located off the southern coast of Vanua Levu Island in Fiji. The area is characterised by a steep reef wall and pelagic waters. The tidal cycle influences the currents, which flow eastward on the incoming tide, causing upwelling at the reef wall. Within this area there are: threatened species and undefined aggregations (Scalloped Hammerhead Sphyrna lewini).

Dakui Point

Dakui Point

DESCRIPTION OF HABITAT

Dakui Point is located off the southern coast of Vanua Levu Island in Fiji. The area is a famous dive site also known as ‘Dreamhouse’. The habitat is characterised by a fringing reef that forms a steep drop-off and includes pelagic waters off the reef. The tidal cycle influences the currents in this area, with the current flowing eastward during the incoming tide, resulting in upwelling at the reef wall (C Skipper pers. obs. 2024). The area is influenced by a tropical marine climate with a wet/cyclone season (November–April) and a dry season (May–October; Jorquera et al. 2020).

This Important Shark and Ray Area is benthic and pelagic and is delineated from surface waters (0 m) to 170 m based on the bathymetry of the area.

CRITERION A

VULNERABILITY

One Qualifying Species considered threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species regularly occurs in the area. This is the Critically Endangered Scalloped Hammerhead (Rigby et al. 2019).

CRITERION C

SUB-CRITERION C51 – UNDEFINED AGGREGATIONS

Dakui Point is an important area for undefined aggregations of one shark species.

Recreational divers have observed schools of Scalloped Hammerheads in this area since 2005 and it has become a sought-after dive site due to their regular presence (C Skipper pers. obs. 2024). Aggregations range in group size from small (2–5 individuals) to large (up to 120 individuals). Scalloped Hammerheads are usually seen on the incoming tide when there is an eastward current. They are observed in ~80% of dives during this tidal phase, with ~4–5 dives conducted per week throughout the year by one operator (C Skipper pers. obs. 2024). Sightings are year-round with no apparent seasonality. The aggregation consists of males and females, but no individuals visually estimated at <1 m total length are observed (C Skipper pers. obs. 2024). It is possible that females pup nearby, with anecdotal reports of Scalloped Hammerhead pups caught by local fishers several kilometres east of the area. Further information is required to understand the nature and function of these aggregations.

Dakui Point

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