Fiji Underwater: After the Cyclone...there is Life!

Reefs in Fiji sustain the fisheries and provide food and ways of life for local people

Fiji inspires the World as it faces global issues and recovers from the most devastating Cyclone to hit these beautiful waters. 

ABC Australia reported on April 13 that “Bleaching in Fiji Corals is at the Worst this Century”.  The Director of Reef Explorer Fiji told the media that about half of the protected reefs along the coast have been bleached in combined effects caused by climate change and El Niño. 

Scientific American reported on the same day that the “Great Barrier Reef Bleaching is Worst than Ever Seen” and that a “Coral Crisis” is upon us. 

Asia Pacific Report from New Zealand reported on April 19 that while the people of Fiji still struggle to recover from the Cyclone its biodiversity has been damaged by “recurring climate change patterns”.  

While grim, dark, depressive and “dead-end-scientific” reports and news continue to flood our World one scientist which is on the ground in Fiji and has been there for some time revealed a refreshing different point of view on the issue. Most importantly she is not alone in her view and her years of experience seem to contain the silent voices of Fiji. 

Dr. Sangeeta Mangubhai Director of the Fiji Programme for Wildlife Conservation Society WCS has been studying the coral reefs in the Vatu-i-ra seascape, located between Fiji’s two large islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.

Ten days before Cyclone Winston hit the islands the “Good Doctor” was celebrating the news that she had received the prestigious 2016 World Reef Award from the International Society for Reef Studies ISRS. 

Discover SCU Southern Cross University News  of Australia explains that the ISRS 206 Global Reef Award -recognition of scientific or conservation achievement in the field of reef science or management opened her doors for a Life-Time Fellowship -another recognition of scientific achievement. 

Dr Mangubhai has not only been recognized by the ISRS and is not only the Director of the WSC but her work has been highlighted by international media such as National Geographic additionally she sits in several government panels. 

In simple words if Dr. Mangubhai has something to say it would be best to listen carefully. Dr Mangubhai took on a post-Cyclone evaluation reef survey just days into the Emergency triggered by Cyclone Winston. 

“Damage to Fiji’s Vatu-i-Ra Conservation Park and surrounding reefs in the wake of Cyclone Winston is fortunately not catastrophic,” the coral reef expert concluded after days of travelling Fiji ocean's lengths and conducting numerous dives.  

“I am relieved to see that the damage to the Vatu-i-Ra Conservation Park and surrounding reefs is not catastrophic and to know that those reefs will continue to thrive and remain productive. If well protected, the conservation park may provide a refuge for coral and reef fish species and help reseed adjacent reefs,” Dr Mangubhai added. 

But what did the expert see under the water that shaped her views in such positive ways? Why does she see hope where others see extinction? 

“The hard corals appear to remain mostly intact. There were broken branching and plating corals and larger coral heads that had fallen over in the storm surge. And while many of the colourful soft corals and sea fans that Fiji is well-known for appear to have been lost in the heavy wave action, they will likely return,” shed added.

The Reef Builders report “Coral Bleach is Heartbreaking but Reefs CAN Recover” shows that Dr. Mangubhai is not alone in her views and that there is grounded science supporting this optimistic outlook. 

“With the massive coral bleaching event occurring right now in the Great Barrier Reef and other parts of the Pacific Ocean, it’s easy to get depressed and discouraged about the future of coral reefs. In the face of so many pressures and stressors, especially climate change, it’s hard not to fall into a feeling of despair about their wholesale destruction...However, it’s important to remember that this is not the first time that coral reefs have suffered massive bleaching, and we already have pretty good evidence and documentation that it is possible for coral reefs to recover,” the media explained. 

Coral experts with decades of experience -while recognizing that action is required immediately to protect threatening reefs, also know the history behind coral reefs impacts and how they recover. 

During 1998-1999 and 2000 coral bleaching took over Asia and Australia and decades later they are striving again in life. 

“Many places turned from coral reef paradises with 100% live coral cover to barren fields of coral rock,” Reef Builders said. 

Reefs of Palau and Fiji recovered completely and regained most of their former live coral cover. Of course the areas went under management and protection policies but coral reefs resilience is scientifically established. 

Voices National Geographic reported on March 8 that just days after the 900 thousand residents of Fiji were hit by the Category 5 Cyclone Winston Dr. Mangubhai was gearing up to dive out the evaluation. 

“On Saturday, 20 February 2016, Fiji – with a population of 900,000 – was hit by Category 5 Cyclone Winston. It was one of the largest cyclones we had experienced, with winds of up to 185 mph. Over a 24-hour period the cyclone left a trail of destruction through the center of the country and through the Vatu-i-Ra Seascape, where Wildlife Conservation Society works.

The Fijian Government immediately announced a 30-day State of Emergency, calling for coordinated assistance from NGOs, the private sector, and humanitarian aid agencies. As images flood in from across the country, we are getting the full sense of the damage that has been done – especially within the communities we work – and the long road to recovery that is ahead of Fiji.

Much of our effort so far, has been around providing food and water relief to our communities until authorities and humanitarian organizations can step in. However, over the next 10 days, through the generous support of Nai’a Cruises (a live-aboard ship that has been diving in Fiji since 1993), I have the opportunity to survey coral reefs throughout the Vatu-i-Ra Seascape to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Winston and collect data on coral bleaching,” Dr. Mangubhai blasted away courageously in her personal blog picked up by National Geographic. 

Why are coral reefs important in the wake of an Emergency of this magnitude?  "Fijians are highly reliant on their coral reefs for both food and for livelihoods. Because fish are the main source of protein, healthy productive coral reefs and their associated fisheries are critical to Fiji’s food security,” Dr. Mangubhai answered.

She took to diving reef evaluation using diverse techniques. Image analysis of direct mechanical impact and comparative analysis of El Niño impacts. 

“The ability of our reefs to resist stresses like cyclones and high sea surface temperatures will affect how healthy they are and therefore their ability to support local fisheries in Fiji,” Dr. Mangubhai concluded. 

At Wildlife Conservation Society in Fiji others shared the views. In “Fading Fast” on March 23 Cat Holloway of Nai´a Dive Fiji and Beyond wrote...

“Right now in Fiji, wonderful coral reefs certainly still exist, indeed many thrive. But every year reefs teeter on a cliff that overlooks coral bleaching from hot ocean currents, fishing or pollution pressure, crown of thorns explosions, ocean acidification and, most suddenly destructive of all, increasingly powerful cyclones.” 

Cat Holloway also remembered the last great coral crisis in Fiji and how reefs recovered then. 

“The barrier reef outside Gau bleached so horrifically in 2000, I thought we’d never dive there again. Today it is an expanse of robust and varied hard corals frequented by sea snakes, turtles, snapper schools and nesting triggerfish,” Holloway said and added…

“A film crew declared Wakaya “dead” in 2001. But from the rubble emerged a stunning soft and hard coral habitat featuring numerous cleaning stations that manta rays frequent,” Holloway continued to list all Fiji Coral Crisis to which corals rose above.  

“Nigali Passage suffered a major blow from anglers targeting groupers, Napoleon wrasse and sharks in 2002. But with the local people more willing to guard that small but significant breeding site, fish numbers have steadily risen and it remains one of the most exciting dives on the planet. Vatu-i-Ra’s current-flushed corals resisted mass bleaching over several recent summers and recovered many times faster than expected from damage that did occur.

Namena, Fiji inspirational and iconic marine park, has copped harsh blow from Cyclone Winston which swept away some of the most lavish coral reef cover I’ve seen anywhere. But I do remember 20 years ago, following cyclone Hina in 1997, the Namena bommies sported only patchy growth and we mainly celebrated diving among fish and sharks there. Since then it grew into a coral and critter paradise,” Holloway ended it. 

Dr.  Mangubhai went technical on her post-cyclone evaluation. 

“After 10 days at sea, traveling over 500 km and completing 26 dives, I have solid data on the scale and intensity of damage to the Vatu-i-Ra Seascape from Cyclone Winston,” Dr. Mangubhai said. 

Sadly Fiji experienced significant losses of sea fans -gorgonian corals and soft corals at almost all of the sites. Large volumes of old and new rubble accumulated in between reef structures, shifting around with the currents. In addition to sustaining mechanical damage from the cyclone, the reefs showed signs of coral bleaching of up to 20 percent caused by thermal stress from the El Nino cycle. Thankfully, the fish, shark, and manta life are flourishing. 

“We dived and snorkeled with 10 mantas across the Vatu-i-Ra Seascape and saw large schools of barracuda, big-eye trevally, fusiliers, surgeonfish, and colourful anthias,” WCS said. 

So What is Next for Fiji´s Ocean Life?

As the director for the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Fiji country program for the past one and a half years, Dr Mangubhai has overseen a diverse portfolio of work on national policy, Marine Protected Areas MPA, fisheries, gender, ridge to reef planning, forest protected areas, and payment for ecosystem services. She sits on numerous government committees providing policy, science and management advice, and co-chairs the Executive Committee for the Women in Fisheries Network-Fiji. 

Dr. Mangubhai like thousands of other International coral experts will be packing her bags and travelling to Honolulu, Hawaii to attend the 13th International Coral Reef Symposium on April 25. The Coral Reef Symposium which recently recognized Dr. Mangubhai with the 2016 World Reef Award is growing and that is also a good sign - a total of 1689 members from 69 Countries are part of the organization now.

“I feel so honoured to be receiving this Award from such a prestigious group, like the International Society for Coral Reefs,” Dr Mangubhai said after her nomination. 

“This Award will help get the work that we do in Fiji recognised at the international level, and will bring more opportunities for collaboration. There is much that the international community can learn about the science we do in Fiji, as well as the conservation. 

I hope getting this award will help inspire others in the Pacific, especially women, to realise that we can be both a scientist and conservationist. They do not have to choose one or the other when they define their personal or career goals. I would advise them to dream big and not feel in any way limited by their roots, because I don’t feel that way. It is my Fijian roots that is my strong foundation for what I contribute here in Fiji, and to the larger international community,” the Good Doctor ended it.