Fiji Village's Community-Led Conservation Effort Brings Back Sharks and Marine Life

Ahmed Mohammed 2 hours ago
This picture taken on October 5, 2026, shows fish swimming among the healthy coral growing in the waters of the Naidiri Marine Biodiversity Park, a marine protected area located about 52 kilometres from Nadi.
This picture taken on October 5, 2026, shows fish swimming among the healthy coral growing in the waters of the Naidiri Marine Biodiversity Park, a marine protected area located about 52 kilometres from Nadi.

At a Glance

  • Sharks and diverse marine species have returned to the reef off Fiji's Naidiri Village after decades of absence, thanks to a community-led conservation initiative.
  • Initiated in 2009 by local resident Manoa Duwai, the project established a protected "tabu area" within customary fishing grounds to restore depleted fish stocks.
  • The village youth group has played a vital role, planting 18,000 corals and 10,000 mangroves in 2023 alone, helping cultivate hundreds of heat-resistant "super corals."
  • Despite extreme heatwaves pushing water temperatures to 39°C, 20% of the planted corals survived, prompting researchers and universities to study the site for climate resilience.
This picture taken on October 5, 2026, shows an environmental advocate planting healthy coral within the Naidiri Marine Biodiversity Park, a marine protected area about 52 kilometres from the Fijian city of Nadi.

A remarkable marine revival is taking place along Fiji's Coral Coast, where grassroots environmental stewardship has transformed a depleted fishery into a thriving ecosystem celebrated by scientists and conservationists worldwide.

Community Conservation and Marine Revival

  • Grassroots Origins: Troubled by diminishing fish sizes and dwindling catches, local resident Manoa Duwai successfully persuaded village elders in 2009 to set aside an initial 30-by-40-meter protected zone within their customary fishing grounds.
  • Expanding Protections: As fish populations rebounded and spilled over into neighboring waters, the community expanded the protected area to 280 by 240 meters, complemented by a rotationally closed fishing zone known as "the fridge."
  • Youth Leadership: Formed in 2011, the Naidiri Village youth group, led by members like 21-year-old Joseva Kunagado, has driven hands-on restoration efforts, planting tens of thousands of corals and mangroves to rebuild the reef habitat.
This picture taken on October 5, 2026, shows a fish swimming among coral in the waters of the Naidiri Marine Biodiversity Park, a marine protected area located about 52 kilometres from the Fijian city of Nadi.
  • Climate Resilience: During a severe heatwave earlier this year, water temperatures reached 39°C. While widespread bleaching occurred, an astonishing 20 percent of the corals survived. These resilient "super corals" are now being studied and transplanted to deeper waters near Suva to safeguard other reefs against rising sea temperatures.

The successful restoration has not only secured a sustainable food source and economic interest from tourism for the 147 villagers of Naidiri, but it has also brought back iconic apex predators like sharks, signaling a fully restored, balanced marine ecosystem.

Residents, fishers, and environmental researchers in Fiji are celebrating a major conservation milestone as sharks and diverse marine species return to the reef off Naidiri Village after decades of absence. Sparked by local resident Manoa Duwai's 2009 initiative to establish protected fishing grounds, and propelled by the village youth group's tireless planting of tens of thousands of corals and mangroves, the marine habitat has experienced a dramatic revival. The initiative has yielded remarkable climate resilience, with 20 percent of the planted corals surviving extreme 39°C water temperatures during a recent heatwave, creating valuable "super corals" that are now drawing international academic attention and tourism.

This picture taken on October 5, 2026, shows healthy coral growing in the waters of the Naidiri Marine Biodiversity Park, a marine protected area located about 52 kilometres from Nadi.

FYI

Customary fishing rights in Fiji, known as qoliqoli, legally recognize traditional indigenous ownership and management authority over traditional inshore fishing grounds and marine resources.

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