Authored by Gauri Salunkhe, based on her experiences during her 4.5 month field work in Fiji for her Master’s thesis project. This is part 2 of a two-part article that delves into the local indigenous knowledge and gender perspectives. Part 1 introduced the community-managed marine conservation work as a nature-based solution in Naidiri village, Fiji.

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“There are no more suitable people on Earth to be the custodians of the oceans than those for whom the sea is home.”

– Epeli Hau’ofa, a prominent Fijian-Tongan writer and anthropologist, in his essay, “Our Sea of Islands”. He has written extensively about the deep connection Pacific Islanders have with the ocean.

Local indigenous knowledge and methods to overcome challenges of implementing nature-based solutions in marine and coastal ecosystems

In Naidiri, a coastal village in Fiji deeply connected to the ocean, local traditions, knowledge, and customs have become powerful tools for addressing the complexities of managing marine and coastal resources. While Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for marine and coastal ecosystems often face implementation challenges, Naidiri has drawn on its traditions and ancestral knowledge to address these in unique ways.

The first hurdle is understanding how marine ecosystems provide essential services and how changes in ecosystem health impact these services. The community’s understanding of marine ecosystems, such  as how they sustain food supply, comes from generations of lived experience, including knowledge of tides, marine species, and seasonal patterns. While scientists may lack long-term data, Naidiri’s people rely on bioclimatic markers and shared community memory to track environmental changes over time. The place-based knowledge, gathered over years of experience and intimate interaction with the ocean, is critical to understanding how the reef supports them. This cultural resilience and adaptive approach have allowed them to respond to changes and adapt their practices to maintain a healthy environment.

The second challenge relates to the governance and property rights of marine and coastal areas that can complicate marine resource management. In Fiji, traditional governance supports resource management in villages like Naidiri. The qoliqoli (traditional fishing ground) is overseen by the turaga (high chief) who approved Naidiri’s MPA when it was established in 2009. Today, the Naidiri Youth Group and Yaubula (Environmental) Management Team lead environmental efforts under this governance such as coral and mangrove restoration, beach cleanups, and crown-of-thorns starfish removal. Guided by Manoa, Naidiri’s environmental officer, these teams coordinate efforts in harmony with traditional governance, where the collective effort known as caka caka vata[1] (working together for a common purpose) plays a pivotal role in the MPA’s success.

The third challenge involves raising public awareness of marine ecosystems and NbS. Unlike urban communities, where the marine environment might feel distant, the people of Naidiri live right by the ocean, which is integral to their daily existence. Their understanding of Vanua[2], a concept that links their lives to both land and sea, deepens their responsibility to care for the environment. The community members have witnessed firsthand the impact of environmental shifts, recalling how declining fish stocks in the early 2000s spurred them to establish the MPA. Although they may not use the term “Nature-based Solutions,” the people of Naidiri have long practiced forms of environmental stewardship that align with NbS principles. The creation of a tabu, or protected area, is an ancestral tradition that has safeguarded marine and terrestrial resources for generations and ultimately inspired Naidiri’s MPA. By passing down these practices, they instill a sense of ocean stewardship in younger generations, equipping them to become future guardians of the MPA.

Through their efforts, the people of Naidiri have cultivated a unique blend of indigenous knowledge and scientific awareness, empowering both adults and youth to lead the way in sustainable marine management. Their story exemplifies how deeply rooted traditions can adapt to modern challenges, ensuring that our treasured marine environment continues to support and nourish the community.

Women’s role in the establishment and management of Marine Protected Areas

Naidiri’s MPA was established with good intentions, aiming to replenish fish stocks for future generations and improve the community’s livelihood. Yet, early on, the perspectives of Naidiri’s women were overlooked, and this exclusion led to unexpected challenges. While the MPA ultimately became a valuable resource, the initial lack of inclusion caused women disproportionate challenges and delayed acceptance. In many coastal communities, women play vital roles in family sustenance, child socialisation, and the day-to-day management of resources. Research highlights how women, who often fish, sell, and process resources, pass down valuable skills and attitudes to their children, shaping future generations’ respect for sustainable practices. Including women in marine management is therefore not only a matter of representation but a key to fostering long-term resource stewardship.

When the MPA in Naidiri was first proposed, some women opposed it as the designated area for the MPA was a usual spot for women to catch fish, octopus, and seashells which are critical for their family’s meals and income. Establishing an MPA there meant that they would have to walk further from home to fish, increasing the time spent on fishing, and reducing time for other responsibilities. Frustrated, a few women cut the plastic-bottle buoys marking the MPA boundaries, a silent protest against the decision. Although the MPA moved forward with approval from the community’s turaga (high chief), the women’s concerns revealed a gap in the planning process: the importance of listening to all voices in a community rooted in tradition and mutual responsibility.

Reflecting on the MPA’s journey, Naidiri’s community recognises how things could have been done differently. Future projects in similar villages could greatly benefit from early and open discussions with women. Naidiri’s youth are now committed to raising awareness about marine conservation before setting up an MPA, such as explaining how it would address issues like declining fish stocks to ensure a sustainable future, to gain early support from women and the rest of the community. Additionally, having female representatives in outreach sessions could create a sense of solidarity and trust among women, encouraging them to feel engaged from the beginning.

Recently, Naidiri’s leaders have taken a new approach. When a temporary MPA (tabu) was set up in 2021, the women were included in the planning discussions. They requested permission to continue octopus fishing within the temporary tabu, as octopus is an essential part of their livelihood. The accommodation of their request marked a turning point of Naidiri’s MPA management, where women’s voices were valued in resource management decisions. By integrating the experiences and insights of women, the village has laid a foundation for a more inclusive approach to conservation, ensuring that future marine projects are embraced by all and reflect the community’s collective strength. Furthermore, octopus are a predator of giant clams that are bred in the MPA. When the women catch these octopus, it becomes a community solution to protect the giant clams. Naidiri’s story shows how, by working together, they can protect their precious marine resources in a way that uplifts everyone.

Building Community Ownership and Capacity through Participatory Research Methods

The study in Naidiri took shape through both ethnographic methods and participatory action research, aligning with the Vanua Research Framework proposed by Nabobo-Baba in 2008. This research framework is deeply embedded in Fijian values, language, and social structures, giving voice to the Fijian ways of knowing and honouring cultural connections like the Vanua (tribe), yavusa (clan), mataqali (sub-clan), and tokatoka (extended family). Unlike traditional research, which can feel intrusive, this framework invited Naidiri’s people into every step of the process, ensuring that they could directly shape how the research developed and how its findings would be shared. The Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach strengthened this study by involving Naidiri community members in practical, hands-on activities that centred on their own knowledge and skills. This method aimed not just to gather data but to leave a lasting positive impact on the community, giving them tools for future challenges.

In one instance, members of the Naidiri women’s group approached me with a heartfelt request: they wanted to see for themselves the MPA that had become a draw for international tourists, researchers, and students. This area carried mixed emotions for many of them. Once their fishing grounds, it was now off-limits, and some women had even resisted its establishment years ago. Over two days, I led 15 women on a snorkelling tour, guiding them through vibrant corals, schools of colourful fish, giant clams, and rare species that now thrived in the protected zone. After their snorkelling tour, I sat with the women for interviews, keen to hear their reflections. The women’s reactions were overwhelmingly positive. For most, this was the first time they saw what had become of the waters where they once cast their nets. They were amazed at the dense corals and the diversity of fish, which they noted had been sparse before the MPA’s establishment in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Their perspectives shifted, and a new sense of ownership toward the MPA emerged; they now saw it as something precious, something they had helped to create. Many expressed a desire to contribute actively to its care and to explore tourism activities around it, envisioning new roles for themselves and potential income opportunities in guiding and hosting visitors. The experience deepened their connection to the MPA and stirred a sense of pride and responsibility.

Another significant moment came when the environmental officer of Naidiri, Manoa, volunteered to help with transect samplings to collect quantitative data of coral cover and fish populations. His interest in learning scientific data collection methods turned into an impromptu training session, as I showed him the techniques involved in transect sampling and guiding him through coral data collection on the A-frames, sparking his enthusiasm for monitoring the MPA. With this newfound knowledge, Naidiri could build a community of local researchers who could contribute to future projects, giving Naidiri a voice in the research conducted within their waters.

The data gathered could be shared with the community, fostering a deeper sense of ownership. Instead of just being represented, the community could actively participate and represent themselves, sharing insights from their data as co-authors or co-presenters in wider discussions. Additionally, indigenous Fijians bring invaluable ecological knowledge of significant reef fish and marine habitats, offering insights crucial for managing these resources sustainably. Collecting data locally allows them to preserve this knowledge in the absence of formal historical records. With these skills, Naidiri’s community members could potentially be hired by other research projects or government bodies looking to study and replicate similar conservation efforts. Not only would this bring economic opportunities, but it could also empower them to present findings to other villages and schools, inspiring similar community-managed MPAs. When these ideas come from fellow indigenous communities, they often resonate more deeply, grounded in shared cultural and spiritual understandings. By sharing their experiences, Naidiri’s community could inspire others to embrace sustainable fisheries and climate resilience, building a network of conservation-minded villages.

Lastly, the local youth group sought my guidance to improve their snorkelling tourism initiative and build skills as tour guides. They had wanted to receive formal tour-guide training but faced financial barriers. Eager to support their ambition, I collaborated with Tourism Fiji to create a workshop aimed at building the youth’s skills and confidence. Using role-playing, storytelling, and talanoa[3] sessions, the workshop allowed the young people to practice guiding, share feedback, and connect with each other over their goals. Through discussions with the community’s elders, the youth gathered insights that would enrich their tours and help them share a more authentic narrative with visitors. Together, they brainstormed key information about the village and the MPA that all guides could use, ensuring consistency and accuracy during tours. The role-playing exercises allowed the youth to practice presenting the information, gaining confidence and improving their performance. As they honed their skills, they also understood how to elevate the quality of their tours, which would enable them to charge higher fees, providing a sustainable income for the youth.

Ultimately, these participatory activities built the community’s capacity by developing new skills, enhancing their knowledge, and fostering a deeper sense of ownership over the MPA. A strong sense of ownership is essential for the MPA’s sustainability. When the community genuinely feels they own and care for such initiatives, they are far more likely to maintain and champion them in the long run, a foundation for success in any community-based solution. Building capacity is crucial, as innovative solutions are required to tackle modern challenges that are unfamiliar to traditional systems and must be learned and mastered rapidly.

Bridging Knowledge Systems: Embracing Indigenous Knowledge to develop Nature-Based Solutions for Resilient Marine Ecosystems

The degradation of marine ecosystems, driven by climate change and human activities, poses serious risks to the health and well-being of coastal communities. Communities in the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) are particularly vulnerable. This reality highlights the urgent need for innovative and inclusive solutions for marine and coastal ecosystems, such as Nature-based Solutions (NbS). However, while NbS have found some success on land, challenges remain in implementing them in marine and coastal environments. A key barrier is the integration of indigenous knowledge, which is essential for developing solutions that are both locally relevant and capable of enhancing the resilience of marine ecosystems.

Indigenous knowledge is often viewed as supplementary to Western science, but it holds the potential to be a vital part of a more holistic approach to environmental management. For this integration to succeed, a shift is needed – one that acknowledges indigenous knowledge as fundamental to developing more effective and equitable conservation strategies. By embracing indigenous peoples’ rights, self-determination, and unique contributions, we can work toward a just and resilient future in environmental management.

This study focused on a locally-managed MPA in Naidiri Village, Fiji, as a case study of NbS for marine ecosystems. The Naidiri community has embraced its indigenous knowledge, values, and practices such as bula vakavanua (traditional indigenous way of life in villages that encompasses the interconnectedness of land, sea, and people, and emphasises the importance of maintaining a harmonious relationship with nature), caka caka vata (working together to achieve a common goal), and tabu (traditional bans) and combined these with modern conservation methods such as coral restoration. Fifteen years after the establishment of the MPA, this approach has reduced socio-ecological vulnerabilities and increased adaptive capacities. However, there are still areas for improvement, particularly in ensuring that women’s voices are included in the decision-making and management of NbS.

The success of Naidiri’s MPA has led to the recognition that research priorities must evolve to integrate indigenous knowledge, methods, and experiences alongside scientific and economic perspectives. Moving forward, it is crucial to bridge the gap between scientific and indigenous knowledge, allowing local indigenous knowledge to lead the way, supported by Western scientific understanding. This approach will be vital for ensuring the health and sustainability of our marine resources.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my Master’s thesis supervisor, Zahra Kalantari, for her unwavering support of this project, insightful feedback and guidance, inspiring ideas, and her confidence in my ability to see it through from the very beginning. I would also like to thank my co-supervisor, Austin Bowden-Kerby, for providing me the opportunity to work in Naidiri. His vast knowledge and experience in corals and coral restoration, along with his understanding of working in Fiji, have been a tremendous resource. A big kudos to Manoa and Charly for their support in data collection, the endless joy and laughter from the ulu levus, and their shared passion for marine conservation made the work so much more enjoyable.

I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the community of Naidiri for their trust and willingness to share their invaluable knowledge and experiences. I am profoundly grateful for the love and acceptance they showed me, treating me as part of the community, making my stay in Naidiri unforgettable. And I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone else who supported and encouraged me with the true Bula spirit of Fiji. Lastly, I want to express my deep appreciation for the marine life in Naidiri’s MPA. The pristine and beautiful ecosystems revealed their richness and various dimensions every time we snorkelled. I hope this project plays a small role in helping to preserve them for the future.

Links to learn more about this project

Gauri Salunkhe’s Master’s Thesis Report “A multidisciplinary approach in implementing nature-based solutions (NbS) for marine and coastal ecosystems – Case study of a locally-managed Marine Protected Area (MPA) initiated by local indigenous knowledge and methods in Fiji”

Naidiri Marine Biodiversity Park Website

“Reefs of Hope” United Nations (UN) Ocean Decade Action

Publication by Austin Bowden-Kerby about “Reefs of Hope” Paradigm “Coral-Focused Climate Change Adaptation and Restoration Based on Accelerating Natural Processes: Launching the “Reefs of Hope” Paradigm”

Naidiri Marine Biodiversity Park Instagram

Naidiri Marine Biodiversity Park Facebook

Naidiri Marine Biodiversity Park YouTube

Naidiri Marine Biodiversity Park LinkedIn

[1] Caka caka vata is a strong part of indigenous Fijian culture which has allowed them to develop group consciousness and a way of working together harmoniously

[2] Vanua refers to the land, sea, and people that one is traditionally connected to; the overall socio-biological environment

[3] “Talanoa in the Fijian cultural context refers to the process where two or more people talk together or when one person is the storyteller and has an audience who largely are listeners… Talanoa is an appropriate approach to Fijian research and it embodies Fijian protocol in the sharing of information.” (Nabobo-baba, 2008) Talanoa can be either formal or informal, depending on who you are speaking to, the context, etc.

Georgia (Gia) Destouni is a professor of hydrology at Stockholm University and a guest professor of engineering hydrology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

If you want to know and use data for how water flows and water storages on land have been varying and changing in recent decades around the world, check out this new published data paper in Nature – Scientific Data (1) and the associated data provided for open access download in (2)

1. Zarei M, Destouni G, A global multi catchment and multi dataset synthesis for water fluxes and storage changes on land, Scientific Data, 11, 1333, 2024.
2. Zarei M, Destouni G, Global Hydro-Climatic Data (GHCD), Version v3, Zenodo Repository [Dataset], 2024.

This data from multiple comparative datasets for 1561 non-overlapping hydrological catchments with worldwide spreading can be used to identify essential agreements and disagreements of the different datasets on the spatial variations and temporal changes of runoff, evapotranspiration, water storage, and associated water-balances around the global land area, e.g., for pattern recognition and hypothesis/model testing. The direct dataset comparison can advance a more coherent, realistic cross-disciplinary understanding of Earth’s water states and changes across regions and scales, from local in single catchments and up to continental and global.

Authored by Gauri Salunkhe, based on her experiences during her 4.5 month field work in Fiji for her Master’s thesis project. This is part 1 of a two-part article that introduces the community-managed marine conservation work as a nature-based solution in Naidiri village, Fiji. Part 2 will delve deeper into the local indigenous knowledge and gender perspectives.

“There are no more suitable people on Earth to be the custodians of the oceans than those for whom the sea is home.”

– Epeli Hau’ofa, a prominent Fijian-Tongan writer and anthropologist, in his essay, “Our Sea of Islands”. He has written extensively about the deep connection Pacific Islanders have with the ocean.

First impressions: A Journey into Fiji’s Marine Conservation and Indigenous Knowledge and Practices

05 March 2024

As I gazed out the plane window, soft white clouds stretched around us, concealing the view of the tropical paradise I’d heard so much about. Then, suddenly, an opening—a glimpse of lush green hills cascading down to sandy beaches, meeting the clear blue waters of the vast Pacific Ocean. We descended toward Nadi International Airport in Fiji, my first view of the island where I’d spend 4.5 months for my Master’s thesis fieldwork. Partnering with Dr. Austin Bowden-Kerby of Corals for Conservation, I aimed to explore how indigenous knowledge could be integral to creating sustainable Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for marine and coastal ecosystems.

07 March 2024

Dr Austin turned into a wood fenced area, the village of Naidiri on the southwest coast of Viti Levu, Fiji’s largest island. We drove through a grassy green field, passing colourful houses – yellow, blue, pink, green – until we reached the other end and stopped in front of a large bure[1], the village chief’s bure. We stooped through a short door, leaving our footwear outside, into a large space.

“Cola[2]! Cola! Welcome to Naidiri!”

We were greeted very enthusiastically. This is the first time we met Manoa Duwai, Naidiri’s local “marine hero” who had pioneered the community-managed Marine Protected Area (MPA) 15 years ago. Through his leadership, the local youth group maintains the MPA with coral restoration, mangrove planting, fish warden training, and more.

Naidiri’s MPA was the focal point of my research. Naidiri is along the coral coast of Fiji that stretches over 80km along the south-west coast of Viti Levu and is a key coral reef habitat that acts as a buffer against ocean waves, creating a protected area ideal for fishing and harvesting seafood. This village of 147 people that are all indigenous Fijians (iTaukei) relies on its traditional fishing grounds, or qoliqoli, which Naidiri shares with two neighbouring villages, Malomalo and Nalele, that are part of the same Vanua^[3] as Naidiri. These fishing areas are controlled by the Vanua, who oversee the organisation and regulation of fishing activities within their qoliqoli. The villagers use their own artisanal fishing methods, with women line-fishing, octopus (hulua) spearing, or gathering shellfish and sea grapes (nama) at low tide, and men spear-fishing or working together to net fish. They also carry out subsistence farming on ancestral lands, growing root crops like cassava (tavioka), taro (dalo), and sweet potato (kumala), and fruits like breadfruit (uto), coconut (niu), and papaya (weleti). Most of the harvest sustains the village, while any surplus is sold in nearby Sigatoka town.

Naidiri’s reliance on subsistence fishing and farming makes them particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and other human-induced pressures affecting their resources. My research, centred on this community, would explore how local indigenous knowledge and practices could strengthen and sustain NbS like their MPA, making it a model for marine and coastal ecosystem resilience.

14 March 2024

An enthusiastic woman named Susana — affectionately known as Lewa Su — welcomed us into her simple yet cozy grey house with pink windows. Albeit simple, this became a home for Charly, a marine biologist volunteering with C4C, and me where we shared many beautiful moments with the community of Naidiri in the next four months. As soon as we settled in, Manoa came knocking on our door, with Kevu, the local youth leader, and Aporosa, one of the youth members, in tow, excited to bring us on our first snorkelling tour of the MPA.

Standing on the white sandy beach next to the village, Charly and I donned our snorkelling masks and fins. I was overcome with emotion as we stepped into the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, and I had my first look into one of the clearest waters that I have swum in, knowing I’d swim in these crystal-clear waters almost everyday. Manoa, Kevu and Aporosa led us through vibrant coral reefs teeming with colourful fish darting between the corals.

This was our first look into the community-managed MPA, also known as tabu, that was established in Naidiri’s qoliqoli since 2009. It spans 280m along the beach and 240m out to the reef, with strict fishing restrictions and active coral restoration, all managed by the Naidiri Youth Group. A temporary tabu was also established in 2021 next to the permanent tabu, where only octopus fishing is allowed, and it may be opened for fishing for a large village event. My research would focus on the MPA (permanent tabu), observing its impact on the community and marine ecosystem since its establishment.

A glimpse into Naidiri’s MPA

From Rice and Tiny Fish to a Legacy of Conservation

One evening in 2008, Manoa returned to his village home in Naidiri after an exhausting game of touch rugby with his friends. His stomach rumbled as he thought of the hearty meal waiting for him. Instead, he found only plain rice and tea. Disappointed, he visited his friend’s house nearby, but they had the same. Determined to change their luck, the two friends decided to go night fishing at the reef right next to the village. Armed with spearguns, they spent more than an hour scouring the reef in search of a decent catch, but all they could find were tiny, palm-sized fish. They returned home disheartened and ate their small fish with rice. As they ate, Manoa turned to his friend and sighed, “Man! If the fish are this small now, what will our children eat?”

That simple question sparked something powerful. Manoa and his friend remembered the ancient tabu practice their ancestors had once used—a temporary no-fishing zone established after significant events like the passing of a village elder that allowed fish populations to recover. They envisioned a similar tabu for Naidiri’s reef, a place where fish could grow and multiply. Soon, they shared their idea with the entire village. While many were supportive, others—particularly some of the women who fished in the area proposed for the tabu—resisted the idea. The ocean had long been central to the women’s lives, providing food and a sense of tradition. They worried that they would have to travel further to fish, taking time away from their families and other daily tasks.

Undeterred, Manoa and his friend used empty bottles tied to ropes to mark the no-fishing zone. Yet resistance lingered. Some villagers cut down the bottles and fished in the restricted area. Determined, Manoa and his friend turned to the matanivanua, Naidiri’s traditional spokesperson, who helped them seek approval from the Vanua’s high chief (Turaganivanua). Once the chief gave his blessing, the tabu was formally established in 2009 over a modest 30m x 40m section of reef. With the chief’s support, the community stopped tampering with the markers, and the tabu took hold.

Just a few months later, the young leaders were invited to a coral-planting workshop led by the Organisation for Industrial, Spiritual, and Cultural Advancement (OISCA). Here, they learned coral restoration techniques and immediately began coral planting within the tabu. The momentum grew, and by 2011, the Naidiri Youth Group was officially established to monitor and protect the area. In 2017, they formed the Naidiri Yaubula (Environmental) Management Support Team, making Naidiri one of only seven villages out of 122 villages in the province of Nadroga-Navosa with such a group dedicated to environmental conservation at that time.

Over the years, the tabu grew into a full-fledged MPA, covering 280m along the beach and 240m out to the sea as of 2024. In 2021, a new, temporary tabu was added. Octopus fishing was allowed considering the needs of the women who are the primary fishers of octopus and the tabu areas are the main areas where octopus are caught at low tide. Furthermore, octopus are primary predators of the giant clams that are bred in the MPA, and this would be a mechanism to reduce predation of the giant clams. To guard against poaching, some of the Naidiri youth received training as fish wardens through the Ministries of Youth and Sports, and Fisheries, giving them the authority to enforce the MPA and fishing ground’s rules.

Today, the MPA is flourishing with coral planting as a cornerstone of the community’s efforts. With training from NGOs and researchers—and some techniques they devised themselves—the youth employ various coral planting methods. Their preferred method is planting of heat-resistant corals using “A-frames” that enhance fish habitats and hold strong against strong waves and storm surges, part of the UNESCO-endorsed “Reefs of Hope” initiative, a notable Ocean Decade Action.

In recognition of their dedication, Naidiri’s MPA was honoured as a Marine Biodiversity Park by Fiji’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in 2022, celebrating their commitment to protecting natural resources and upholding traditional values in marine conservation. What started with a simple meal of rice and small fish has now become a legacy of conservation for future generations.

Naidiri’s Marine Protected Area as a Nature-based Solution

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are nature-inspired strategies to tackle environmental and social issues, recognised by IPCC and IPBES as effective, often cost-efficient, ways to address global challenges. NbS supports goals like climate resilience and biodiversity. However, most NbS focus on urban and land contexts, overlooking rural and coastal areas. Despite having fewer examples, NbS in marine and coastal areas hold immense potential for advancing global climate and biodiversity goals through strategies like marine protected areas, spatial management, and ecosystem restoration. These strategies support climate mitigation, adaptation, and the development of a sustainable blue economy.

Naidiri’s tabu is unique among Fiji’s locally-managed MPAs. Unlike traditional tabus, which primarily enforce no-fishing rules, Naidiri’s MPA combines coral planting and clam breeding projects with the no-fishing policy. The synergy between coral planting and no-fishing rules has created a balanced, mutually supportive ecosystem. Grazing fish, such as farmer fish, play a crucial role here; their increased populations graze on algae that might otherwise out-compete coral. With less competition from algae, the corals have room to grow, providing more habitat and safe spaces for fish to breed. In turn, the growing fish populations continue to maintain the reef’s balance, allowing both coral and fish to thrive together.

The primary coral planting method in Naidiri uses fish habitat-enhancing frames that are part of the “Reefs of Hope” strategy, a United Nations (UN) Ocean Decade Action. This method prioritises planting naturally heat-resistant coral species to improve resilience in rising ocean temperatures. This approach enhances natural selection for heat resilience, helping the reef adapt to climate change stressors. Naidiri’s MPA not only conserves biodiversity for a more resilient ecosystem but also provides crucial environmental services, such as fishery support, reducing coastal erosion, and climate adaptation, increasing the adaptive capacity, and reducing the ecological vulnerability. Through these multi-layered benefits, Naidiri’s protected area stands out as a model NbS for marine and coastal ecosystems.

In recent years, the reef has seen an increase in fish populations and sizes. Although many of these fish live within the MPA’s boundaries, where fishing is off-limits, they sometimes venture beyond its borders, allowing local fishers to catch them. This “spillover” has bolstered food security for the community and decreased their socio-economic vulnerability. With greater access to fish and other seafood, families in Naidiri now have enough to feed themselves and can even sell any surplus. On top of this, the government recently recognized Naidiri’s MPA as a Marine Biodiversity Park, attracting snorkelers eager to explore its vibrant underwater world. Snorkelling tourism has since become an additional source of income, especially for local youth that are tour guides for the visitors. This has diversified the community’s income source.

Furthermore, various organisations, researchers, and government agencies have offered the community workshops on coral restoration, fish monitoring, and guiding tours. With this training, Naidiri’s youth have gained valuable skills to manage the MPA and promote sustainable practices. The visits from international researchers and students have led to rich exchanges, blending scientific insights with local indigenous knowledge. This collaboration has empowered the community to enhance their stewardship of the MPA and increased their socio-economic adaptive capacity.

In the end, the MPA has become more than a protected area; it has transformed into a vital source of resilience for Naidiri. By reducing the community’s sensitivity to external pressures and boosting their adaptability, the MPA has contributed to a more secure and hopeful future for the people of Naidiri.

Naidiri’s MPA featured in SBS World News

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my Master’s thesis supervisor, Zahra Kalantari, for her unwavering support of this project, insightful feedback and guidance, inspiring ideas, and her confidence in my ability to see it through from the very beginning. I would also like to thank my co-supervisor, Austin Bowden-Kerby, for providing me the opportunity to work in Naidiri. His vast knowledge and experience in corals and coral restoration, along with his understanding of working in Fiji, have been a tremendous resource. A big kudos to Manoa and Charly for their support in data collection, the endless joy and laughter from the ulu levus, and their shared passion for marine conservation made the work so much more enjoyable.

I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the community of Naidiri for their trust and willingness to share their invaluable knowledge and experiences. I am profoundly grateful for the love and acceptance they showed me, treating me as part of the community, making my stay in Naidiri unforgettable. And I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone else who supported and encouraged me with the true Bula spirit of Fiji. Lastly, I want to express my deep appreciation for the marine life in Naidiri’s MPA. The pristine and beautiful ecosystems revealed their richness and various dimensions every time we snorkelled. I hope this project plays a small role in helping to preserve them for the future.

Links to learn more about this project

Gauri Salunkhe’s Master’s Thesis Report “A multidisciplinary approach in implementing nature-based solutions (NbS) for marine and coastal ecosystems – Case study of a locally-managed Marine Protected Area (MPA) initiated by local indigenous knowledge and methods in Fiji”

Naidiri Marine Biodiversity Park Website

“Reefs of Hope” United Nations (UN) Ocean Decade Action

Publication by Austin Bowden-Kerby about “Reefs of Hope” Paradigm “Coral-Focused Climate Change Adaptation and Restoration Based on Accelerating Natural Processes: Launching the “Reefs of Hope” Paradigm”

Naidiri Marine Biodiversity Park Instagram

Naidiri Marine Biodiversity Park Facebook

Naidiri Marine Biodiversity Park Youtube

Naidiri Marine Biodiversity Park Linkedin

[1] A bure is a traditional indigenous Fijian house made with weaved bamboo for the walls and a thatched roof

[2] Cola, pronounced at “thola”, is a greeting in the local Fijian dialect (Nadroga dialect) spoken in Naidiri

[3] Vanua refers to the land, sea, and people that one is traditionally connected to; the overall socio-biological environment

Mariel Perez Zabaleta is a researcher at DTU in Denmark who held a WaterCentre@KTH lunch seminar on 18 November 2024.

It has been a pleasure to return to KTH and present my current research topic. After completing my doctoral studies and two postdoctoral research projects at KTH, including the most recent one on SARS-CoV-2 monitoring in wastewater, it is exciting to share my latest work on water reuse in the food industry. This new topic is closely linked to my previous research, as both focus on WASTEWATER, our precious resource!

As we approach 2030, the world faces a serious water shortage, with a projected deficit of over 40%. This makes it crucial to adopt sustainable water practices and reuse water wherever possible. Shockingly, 80% of wastewater is released back into the environment without proper treatment. This not only wastes our valuable “Blue Gold” but also pollutes our planet with high loads of nutrients, chemical pollutants, drugs, microplastics, microorganisms, and more. This pressing issue was the focus of the recent seminar titled “Wastewater as a Resource: Transforming Industrial Water Use,” which highlighted the critical role industries play and the potential of wastewater reuse.

Globally, industry accounts for 19-22% of freshwater withdrawals, yet only a mere 2.4% of this water is reused. In Europe, the industrial sector consumes approximately 40% of all freshwater resources, with countries like Sweden consuming more than 60% (Figure 1). By reducing, reclaiming, recycling, and reusing water, we can significantly improve our water management practices.

Figure 1. Industrial water withdrawals in Europe. Data source: World Bank

The seminar placed a spotlight on the food industry, which has a huge impact on our water resources. Did you know that producing just one kilogram of meat can take up to 15,500 liters of water? This shows how big the food industry’s water footprint is and why it is so important for this sector to adopt smarter water use practices, like reuse, reduction, and recycling.

However, making water reuse a reality in industries isn’t without its challenges:

• Legislative Framework: Current regulations might not fully support or encourage water reuse.
• Knowledge of Hazards: It is crucial to understand and map out potential chemical and microbial hazards in treated water to ensure it is safe.
• Robust Treatment Systems: We need effective water treatment systems that can consistently produce safe, reusable water.

The seminar also introduced the “Water-for-Purpose” concept. This means treating and recycling water based on its intended use. For example, water used in cooling towers can be recirculated after less intensive treatment. It is also important to keep different types of water separate (e.g., black water should not mix with grey water) to prevent contamination and ensure efficient treatment.

By addressing these challenges and adopting innovative practices, industries can turn wastewater into a valuable resource, helping to conserve our precious “Blue Gold” and protect the environment.

Brigita Dejus is a researcher at Riga Technical University, Latvia.

In 2021, I graduated from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Riga Technical University, where I conducted my doctoral research on using filamentous fungi for wastewater treatment with a focus on targeting pharmaceutical substances. It was a pleasant surprise for me to receive an invitation to join the lunch seminar organized by WaterCentre@KTH. During the seminar, I presented my findings on the current state of water-based epidemiology in Latvia, as well as provided insight into the European Commission’s mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters”. 

Forecasting COVID-19 with multiple data sources

Have you ever wondered if it is possible to forecast cumulative COVID-19 cases two weeks in advance using historical data on previous two-week cumulative cases, RNA concentration data, and strain prevalence data? Or, is it possible to demonstrate the applicability of water-based epidemiology in small and medium-sized municipalities and to test whether the combination of data from biomarkers (5-HIAA) and mobile phone call activity can increase the accuracy of a relationship assessment between the amount of detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies in wastewater and confirmed COVID-19 cases? If so, check out these two publications where a water-based epidemiology research team from Latvia has worked to find the answers (Paper I and Paper II).

Restore our waters, a EU mission for the ocean

Finally, the seminar was closed by a discussion about the European Commission’s mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters”. With a 2030 target, the EC Mission aims to protect and restore the health of the ocean and waters through research and innovation, citizen engagement, and blue investments. The Mission’s new approach will address the ocean and waters as one and play a key role in achieving climate neutrality and restoring nature. More information about the mission’s goals, strategies, and ongoing activities can be found at the following link.

The importance of sharing

To conclude, I want to emphasize the importance of sharing research findings with other researchers. This is why I believe it was important to visit KTH and share my own story about my work. As John F. Kennedy has said, “Anyone who can solve the problems of water will be worthy of two Nobel prizes – one for peace and one for science.” With this in mind, I urge everyone in academia to continue experimenting and upholding new knowledge for the water and wastewater field, especially as we approach the announcement of the new Nobel laureates for 2024 by next week.